Bilayered Polymeric Silver Dressing*: A Psychosocial Approach to Wound Care that Decreases the Amount of Wound Exposure and Cost

Bilayered Polymeric Silver Dressing*: A Psychosocial Approach to Wound Care that Decreases the Amount of Wound Exposure and Cost.

Purpose:

The purpose of this study was to help the challenges that many patients and caregivers face with issues related to pain, visualization of the wound, cost of home health visits, and overall cost of wound care products. Many patients and caregivers find it stressful and expensive to treat chronic draining wounds.  Moderate to heavy draining wounds are typically managed with wound products that require daily to every other day dressing changes. 

Objective:

Usual wound regime by patient or caregiver requires frequent dressing changes. The patients here have previously been treated with daily dressing changes for months to years. This restricted the patient’s activities, ability for socialization, and adequate care resources. It also affected wound healing by thermoregulatory changes, psychosocial issues surrounding visualization of the wound and pain during wound exposure with dressing changes.  A cost effective, innovative bilayered polymeric silver dressing*, designed to actively move fluid with the ability to stay in place up to seven days was evaluated. Primary dressings were substituted with the polymeric silver dressing which were changed every 5-7 days.

Outcomes:

Wound measurements and clinical responses were evaluated. This approach addressed wound exudates and visualization of a disfiguring wound while decreasing the amount of dressing changes. Each patient enrolled in the treatment reported decreased stress level and pain, along with improved wound management and the ability to decrease home health visits. It was also reported that the overall wound care cost was decreased.

Management of psychosocial issues surrounding wound care is a key element in the care of patients with chronic wounds. This evaluation demonstrated a cost efficient manner that is manageable for the patient and care-provider. Bilayered Polymeric Silver dressings are useful in meeting many of the psychosocial and physical needs of patients with chronic wounds and should be considered as a first line therapy and in refractory cases.

*SelectSilver, Milliken and Company, Spartanburg, SC.