Page 115 - APPENDIX B: Trials Investigating the Management of Acute Radiation-Induced Skin Reactions Reading Qualitative Research

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WOUND CARE

Implications for policy. In view of the inter-professional aspect involved in Radiation

Oncology wound management, the development of a Clinical Practice Guideline would be most

beneficial. The scope of nursing practice in the possible standardization of an innovative

practice such as radiating through wound dressings will need to be addressed in order to support

and evaluate best practice. In developing or adapting care standards, policy makers should

ensure that the resulting care standards are relevant to local stakeholders including the patients,

staff, managers, and healthcare facility; based on clear evidence, reliable so that different

practitioners will be able to interpret and apply them in the same way, valid, flexible and

reviewable (Pearson, Field, & Jordan, 2007). Additionally, in order to use clinical guidelines to

assess practice, they need to be developed into quantitative criteria or indicators that are

measurable and observable quantitative statements that may be used to measure quality of care

relating to only the specific area of practice (Pearson, Field, & Jordan, p. 143). The development

of an algorithm based on expert consensus regarding wound care products to be used consistently

would be helpful in guiding practice in radiation oncology. All of these necessitate inter-

professional communication between the radiation oncologists, nursing and radiation therapy

departments to standardize care and develop site-specific guidelines.

Summary

In this thesis, I have presented an overview of current evidence and practice regarding

radiating through wound dressings both in literature and across Canada. Specific methods

employed in the study included a national environmental scan survey, qualitative interviews and

expert-consensus. In the quest for identifying ‘best practice’, the methodology was geared

towards assimilating research evidence, experience in wound management and expertise in the

field of radiation oncology. The findings and related discussion bear implications in practice,