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THE HANDBOOK OF ADVANCED DRESSINGS: THE WINNING RESULT OF A VIRTUOUS COLLABORATION

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European Statement

Clinical Pharmacy Services

Author(s)

F. Castelvero, S. Borghetti, L. Savadori, D. Visigalli, C. Palladino, S. Vimercati

Why was it done?

Advanced dressings effectively treat wounds by generating a moist environment that speeds up the wound healing process, unlike traditional dressings, which base their action on a dehydrated environment and are a mere protection. Knowing how to use advanced dressings, the type of wounds to which they are addressed, their mutual interactions and their replacement times is essential to exploit their therapeutic effects. The handbook responds to the need to act as a practical guide for use in the hospital departments by nurses and physicians not specialized in wound care, to correctly treat the injured patient.

What was done?

An ad hoc handbook of advanced dressings was designed and created by our Pharmacy, in close collaboration with the hospital’s expert wound care nurses.

How was it done?

Meetings were organized with the nurses of the department of vulnology to find out the main errors observed in the use of dressings in the hospital and the fundamental dressings to purchase for the most frequent classes of wounds. The pharmacy extracted the consumption of the last year (2023-2024) from the software and drew up a list of advanced medications specifying, in simple graphic form, the indication for use, the composition, the contraindications and the interactions with other products and /or dressings and storage conditions. The dressings were divided into macro categories based on the CND of the Ministry of Health.

What has been achieved?

The handbook was reviewed by staff specialized in wound care and was presented to the physicians and nurses of the departments of destination during a training day on the treatment of wounds, with the presentation of clinical cases. One month later, a questionnaire was then submitted to the staff to evaluate the clarity of the handbook, its usefulness in normal clinical practice, and its effectiveness in treating the patient. All the staff expressed a general satisfaction.

What next?

The handbook described represents a valid tool for the correct use of advanced dressings in the hospital setting: it allows us to reduce the waste of resources, the time of hospitalization of patients, who are treated more effectively, and promotes staff training, through close collaboration between qualified nurses and hospital pharmacists.

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