BACKGROUND: Treatment of chronic wounds is complex, particularly as a standard for the assessment and evaluation of quality of care is missing. OBJECTIVES: To develop indicators for quality of care in chronic wounds in general, and to evaluate the quality of care in leg ulcers in Hamburg, Germany, in particular. METHODS: Twenty indicators were derived from a national Delphi expert consensus to compute a single index of quality of care. This index was applied in a cross-sectional study involving a large spectrum of care providers and leg ulcer patients in the community. Trained wound experts interviewed and examined the patients, who had to complete standardized questionnaires. RESULTS: On average, 64% of the quality criteria were met in the consecutive sample of 502 patients with chronic leg ulcers of any origin; 75% of the patients were satisfied with their wound care. Predictors of quality of care are presented. CONCLUSIONS: This instrument is feasible, valid and ready for comparisons of patient groups, regions and care systems, and for optimization processes in wound care.
BACKGROUND: Treatment of chronic wounds is complex, particularly as a standard for the assessment and evaluation of quality of care is missing. OBJECTIVES: To develop indicators for quality of care in chronic wounds in general, and to evaluate the quality of care in leg ulcers in Hamburg, Germany, in particular. METHODS: Twenty indicators were derived from a national Delphi expert consensus to compute a single index of quality of care. This index was applied in a cross-sectional study involving a large spectrum of care providers and leg ulcerpatients in the community. Trained wound experts interviewed and examined the patients, who had to complete standardized questionnaires. RESULTS: On average, 64% of the quality criteria were met in the consecutive sample of 502 patients with chronic leg ulcers of any origin; 75% of the patients were satisfied with their wound care. Predictors of quality of care are presented. CONCLUSIONS: This instrument is feasible, valid and ready for comparisons of patient groups, regions and care systems, and for optimization processes in wound care.
Authors: K Herberger; K Heyer; K Protz; A Mayer; J Dissemond; S Debus; T Wild; J Schmitt; M Augustin Journal: Hautarzt Date: 2017-11 Impact factor: 0.751