Does Use of a Wound After-care Summary Improve Patient Satisfaction and Time to Wound Healing?

Study was withdrawn because of a problem with the software used for generating the aftercare summary.

The purpose of this research study is to evaluate a patient education program for chronic wound care. The wound care nurse practitioner (NP) at the Ann Arbor VAMC will use a wound self-management "after-care summary" with approximately half of her patients. This study will examine whether using this patient education tool for self-management of wound care results in improved patient outcomes.

The wound care NP will measure the wound and assess adherence to the following self-management activities: visiting the wound care clinic as scheduled; offloading; applying dressings; obtaining assistance at home; and participating in social activities. This information will be entered into a computer database on a VA computer that will generate a summary chart showing the relationship between adherence and wound healing. The generated "after-care summary" will be discussed with the patient and used to set self-management goals.

Outcomes are measured at each participating patient's visit for one year or until the patient's wound is healed, whichever comes first.

Inclusion Criteria: All patients presenting for outpatient wound care at the Ann Arbor VA Medical Center NP wound care clinic, who meet the following inclusion criteria for chronic wounds: stage II, III, IV pressure ulcers; venous stasis ulcers, and diabetic ulcers. Exclusion Criteria: Cognitively impaired patients who cannot give informed consent.