British Journal of Community Nursing最新文献

Urostomy patients are rare as only about 5% of ostomates have urostomies. This can prove challenging because many healthcare professionals do not have experience caring for these patients and may be unfamiliar with their specific needs. As with other ostomates, urostomy patients require specialist nurses with the expertise to provide long-term support. Care for urostomy patients may be provided by urinary diversion specialists or stoma specialist nursing. Patient-centred pathways are needed to cater for their unique needs and ensure good patient outcomes and quality of life. People with urostomy have very post-operative need needs and inadequate care may result in hospital admissions. They need specialised long-term care. It is also crucial to educate the healthcare professionals responsible for their care.

Iwan Dowie discusses the Equality Act 2010 and the need for community nurses to be aware of the protected characteristics to avoid breaches.

Burns are injuries to the skin or the underlying tissue system caused by heat, radiation, electricity, friction or chemicals. Burns can cause pain and discomfort during dressing changes; a person's pain response varies depending on individual perception. The pain response can indicate tissue damage in the body, as pain causes a person to experience discomfort. Pain can be interpreted as a subjective sensory response and an unpleasant emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage. Pain is usually managed with pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapy. An example of non-pharmacological therapy is the use of distraction techniques, such as virtual reality (VR). VR diverts pain by creating a 3D environment with a screen and VR glasses. It allows the patient to immerse themselves in a virtual world complete with sound and music. The volume can be adjusted as needed and the patient can interact with the virtual world. The purpose of this study is to determine the characteristics and effectiveness of VR pain management in burn patients. The method used in this study is a literature review using the Preferred Reporting Items For Systematic Review (PRISMA). The authors searched for journal articles using the Science Direct, PubMed, and Google Scholar databases, covering the period from 2015-2023. The keywords used were pain management, virtual reality and burn injury. Based on the predetermined inclusion criteria, 10 articles were selected for the review. The results of this study, based on the analysis of 10 articles, indicated that the distraction or transition method (non-pharmacological management using VR) was effective in reducing pain and discomfort during dressing changes in patients with mild to moderate burns, across various age groups from infants and children to adults. Clinicians can leverage VR technology to tailor interventions based on individual patient needs, across all age groups, enhancing patient comfort and engagement during procedures.

The transition of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) from hospitals to community care is a significant advancement in patient care, driven by increased practitioner competence and technological improvements. Modern, mobile NPWT systems, equipped with smaller pumps, have expanded treatment options and reduced hospital stays. However, discharging patients with NPWT systems introduces some logistical challenges, including staff training, supply management and effective communication between hospital staff and community teams. Practical challenges include achieving secure seals in difficult anatomical locations, managing patient mobility and adapting care practices to home environments. Despite these challenges, the benefits of community-based NPWT are well-documented, reducing hospital costs and improving patient outcomes. Collaboration with NPWT system providers is essential to ensure appropriate training for community nurses, especially given the variety of products used across different trusts. The successful integration of NPWT into community settings demands a collaborative and multidisciplinary approach, addressing logistical, training and operational barriers to maximise its potential in improving patient outcomes.

Aims: To investigate how the implementation and training in the WCP affects the behaviour of generalist nurses, focusing on four specific endpoints: motivation, confidence, critical thinking and knowledge.

Methods: A total of 89 generalist nurses received 6 hours of training in the WCP, over a period of 10-16 weeks. The participants filled a questionnaire before and after the training. Data were collected between January 2023 and January 2024.

Findings: There was a significant improvement in the participants' wound care knowledge, motivation and self-efficacy. The participants' confidence in their wound care skills also increased after the training. A notable improvement was seen in nurses' critical thinking when treating wounds and delivering wound care.

Conclusions: The WCP guide supports healthcare professionals in their day-to-day work and strengthens their critical thinking and knowledge of wound care management.

Chronic wounds present a major health challenge for patients and put considerable financial burdens on healthcare systems all over the world. Consequently, there is an urgent need to develop and implement wound management strategies that enhance health-related quality of life, while effectively reducing costs for this patient population. Autologous punch grafting is emerging as a promising treatment to address these needs. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility for implementing autologous punch grafting technique in individuals with difficult-to-heal wounds. A feasibility study was conducted using an uncontrolled, non-randomised pre-post intervention design. The results indicated that autologous punch grafting technique can be effectively performed for chronic leg wounds in primary care by trained personnel. This method enhances patients' quality of life, reduces pain and promotes wound healing progression.

Aysha Mendes provides a synopsis and brief review of a selection of recently published research articles that are of interest to community nurses.