What did we do?

We conducted a qualitative study to explore wound care and procurement decisions in community and primary care services in the North of England.

Why was it important?

In the UK an estimated 200,000 patients have a complex wound which represents a significant burden to patients and the NHS. Wound care management is responsible for approximately 4% of annual UK healthcare budget. We previously assessed the current management of wounds across five community healthcare organisations in the North of England and found marked variation in practice and services. The study also revealed underuse of evidence-based investigations and exposed a potential overuse of interventions where there is little or no known patient benefit. This qualitative study aimed to investigate the factors that influence wound care management and prescribing practices at the patient, the service and the organisation level with the goal of explaining variations in practice. Together with information collected through the other activities of our wound care programme, the findings of this work are helping to support future service development, product procurement initiatives and research and implementation activities in this area.

How did we do it?

Healthcare professionals (such as tissue viability nurses; podiatrists, generalist community nurses and clinical nurse managers) who regularly cared for patients with complex wounds, were wound care specialists or managed wound care services were invited to participate in one of five focus group interviews across Greater Manchester and Leeds. A further focus group interview was held for personnel involved in wound care procurement (such as pharmacists, procurement leads, medicines management technicians, and clinical advisors to healthcare organisations) in Greater Manchester Community or Primary Care services. Participants were encouraged to think about factors that enable or hinder wound care management and procurement, relating their answers to their own experiences.

Who we are working with?

Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust

Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust

University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust

Manchester CCG

Downloadable Resources

• Publications

  Gray T, Wilson P, Dumville J & Cullum N; 2019; What factors influence community wound care in the UK? A focus group study using the Theoretical Domains Framework; BMJ Open

   

More information
For more information please contact Alison Littlewood (Programme Manager) or Professor Dame Nicky Cullum (Academic Lead).