Pain relief at dressing change of chronic wounds: a survey study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Pain relief strategies at dressing change of chronic wounds: a survey study of UK practice.
IRAS ID
319332
Contact name
Richard Cooper
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Sheffield
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 7 months, days
Research summary
A chronic wound is an open sore in the skin that takes a long time to heal, if at all, and can come back. Common types are bed sores, venous leg ulcers, and diabetic foot ulcers. These are managed differently but all usually need regular dressing changes. These dressing changes are often painful and distressing for patients. Current guidelines in England focus on healing the wound, and not managing pain at dressing change. This means there is currently no clear guidance on how people living with chronic wounds, their carer, or healthcare staff should manage pain at dressing change. Our research has been commissioned by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), who want to know about how to best manage this issue. This survey study - comprised of one survey with patients, one survey with carers and one survey with healthcare professionals - is one of three parts of a larger project to find out what NIHR want to know (we are also working on a systematic review of existing evidence about effective and acceptable ways of managing pain at dressing change for chronic wounds, and are additionally conducting some interviews with patients, carers and healthcare professionals to add to our knowledge of this topic). The study will build upon our systematic review and interviews to further ask patients, carers and healthcare professionals in the UK questions about pain management at dressing change. Eventually we would like to create guidance about this topic and publish our results.
REC name
Wales REC 4
REC reference
24/WA/0082
Date of REC Opinion
30 Apr 2024
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion