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WOUND CARE

personal communication, August 30, 2013; M. McQuestion, personal communication, August

30, 2013). The following implications for research are presented in a sequence; however patient

care goals must be factored into prioritizing these recommendations. Based on analysis of

findings and expert-consensus, recommendations for future research are:

1) Identify the composition and properties of available and most frequently utilized wound

care products in radiation induced dermatitis and malignant wounds reported in the

national environmental scan survey.

2) Collaborate with Physics Department to test the hypothesis, measure in a phantom lab

setting the bolus effect, when dressings are left in place in order to “understand the

physics of it” (A. Bolderston, personal communication, August 22, 2013).

3) Conduct a cost analysis of wound dressings when they are removed on a daily basis.

4) Design research that includes both quantitative and qualitative approaches (M.

McQuestion, personal communication, August 30, 2013; Polit & Beck, 2012). Clinical

research such as a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) with patient tumor groups or

treatment site-specific groups to determine best evidence is needed. However,

considering the practical difficulty in conducting RCTs due to complexity of the patient

population with co-morbidities, concomitant therapy, prognostic factors etc., a well-

designed clinical case study that is not randomized, but with large power and appropriate

inclusion and exclusion criteria may be effective in studying effects of wound dressings.

5) A phenomenological approach could further be used “to create an environment that is

open to change” (Kohr, 2007, p.19). For example, cancer type or site-specific group

discussions could in turn lead to efficient implementation of nursing practice guidelines.