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Tuesday, May 23, 2017: 12:00 AM
Clinical Problem: Accurate classification of skin injuries and identification of their etiology is paramount to ensuring that the correct treatment plan is initiated to halt the injury and positively affect healing. The average clinician has difficulty in making the correct identification owing to the fact that these injuries have very subtle differences. This is particularly true in patients with dark skin tones as visual cues associated with these types of skin injuries may not be sufficient.
Intervention: The project included the development and implementation of education sessions for the staff working at a skilled nursing facility. The education sessions were voluntary and consent was presumed with their attendance and with their completion of the pre and post -tests.
Comparison: A pre-test/post-test design was utilized for this project. The items were content validated by review of four wound ostomy continence (WOC) nurses and colleagues who agreed to review it. The pre/post –tests also included two Likert- type items to measure attitude regarding the subjects’ ability to differentiate skin injuries.
Outcome: A total of 37 subjects attended the sessions. 3 subjects declined to complete either the pretest or the post-test, or both, and were excluded from the study. Post- test scores were increased by approximately 20%. Statistical analysis was completed using a paired T Test. The increase in post –test scores were found to be statistically significant (p=.000). Internal consistency was measured with Cronbach’s Alpha; tests were reliable with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.95.
Conclusion: Appropriate treatment for skin injury can only occur when the etiology is correctly identified. Clinicians often have difficulty identifying early signs of skin injury in patients with dark skin tones. Tools that can be readily available and easily utilized by the clinician at the bedside are needed.
Intervention: The project included the development and implementation of education sessions for the staff working at a skilled nursing facility. The education sessions were voluntary and consent was presumed with their attendance and with their completion of the pre and post -tests.
Comparison: A pre-test/post-test design was utilized for this project. The items were content validated by review of four wound ostomy continence (WOC) nurses and colleagues who agreed to review it. The pre/post –tests also included two Likert- type items to measure attitude regarding the subjects’ ability to differentiate skin injuries.
Outcome: A total of 37 subjects attended the sessions. 3 subjects declined to complete either the pretest or the post-test, or both, and were excluded from the study. Post- test scores were increased by approximately 20%. Statistical analysis was completed using a paired T Test. The increase in post –test scores were found to be statistically significant (p=.000). Internal consistency was measured with Cronbach’s Alpha; tests were reliable with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.95.
Conclusion: Appropriate treatment for skin injury can only occur when the etiology is correctly identified. Clinicians often have difficulty identifying early signs of skin injury in patients with dark skin tones. Tools that can be readily available and easily utilized by the clinician at the bedside are needed.