Malignant wound management: what dressings do nurses use?

Abstract

This paper reports on the findings from the first part of a three-phase project that aimed to identify nursing strategies used in the management of malignant wounds. The difficulties relating to the management of these wounds and the significant physical and psychological impact on patients are described. A quantitative postal survey aiming to identify the types of dressing used in the care of malignant wounds was sent to specialist nurses working in oncology and palliative care in New South Wales, Australia. Additional qualitative data showed that the major issues were coping with odour and meeting the financial costs of the dressing products. The long list of products compiled for this research demonstrates the complexities nurses face when selecting dressings for the management of malignant wounds. Furthermore, there are no clear recommendations to guide nursing practice. This study provides a framework for subsequent phases of the project and will hopefully lead to the development of guidelines for best practice in malignant wound management.