Julia Paul1. 1. Oakland University School of Nursing, Rochester, MI.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Wound-related itch can be a source of great discomfort for patients with chronic wounds. Although itch is common among patients with chronic wounds, it is an understudied phenomenon. A greater understanding of itch is needed in order for clinicians to more effectively manage it. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to identify descriptors for wound-related itch based on patient responses. METHODS: Data from structured interviews of patients with chronic wounds were analyzed. Those patients who described wound-related itch were asked to rate how much various descriptors matched their itch on a scale of 0 (not at all) to 4 (to a great extent). Analysis included descriptive statistics and principal components factor analysis. RESULTS: Fifty-six of 199 (28%) patients with wound-related itch rated descriptors, and 5 categories of descriptors were identified. A concise set of 15 descriptors of itch related to chronic wounds was defined from this. CONCLUSIONS: This list of descriptors for wound-related itch can be tested further for clinical use and for research purposes when wound-related itch is being explored.
INTRODUCTION: Wound-related itch can be a source of great discomfort for patients with chronic wounds. Although itch is common among patients with chronic wounds, it is an understudied phenomenon. A greater understanding of itch is needed in order for clinicians to more effectively manage it. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to identify descriptors for wound-related itch based on patient responses. METHODS: Data from structured interviews of patients with chronic wounds were analyzed. Those patients who described wound-related itch were asked to rate how much various descriptors matched their itch on a scale of 0 (not at all) to 4 (to a great extent). Analysis included descriptive statistics and principal components factor analysis. RESULTS: Fifty-six of 199 (28%) patients with wound-related itch rated descriptors, and 5 categories of descriptors were identified. A concise set of 15 descriptors of itch related to chronic wounds was defined from this. CONCLUSIONS: This list of descriptors for wound-related itch can be tested further for clinical use and for research purposes when wound-related itch is being explored.