Page 23 - APPENDIX B: Trials Investigating the Management of Acute Radiation-Induced Skin Reactions Reading Qualitative Research

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WOUND CARE

The goal of radiation therapy in the case of malignant wounds is to reduce the tumour

size. As the tumor becomes smaller, radiation dermatitis may develop on the surrounding tissue.

The principles of moist wound healing should be applied from the beginning of radiotherapy to

promote patient comfort and create an optimal wound environment in the open lesion and in any

radiation skin reaction in the nearby area (BCCA, 2012). Skin care practices for malignant or

fungating, exudating wound include cleansing, debridement, controlling bleeding and odor,

protecting the wound from further damage and controlling pain. Metronidazole 0.8% gel and

charcoal dressings may be applied to the wound to reduce odor (Sparks, 2007). The focus of this

research study is to examine whether radiating through dressings is a standardized wound care

practice during radiotherapy at different Radiation Oncology Centres in Canada and to

understand the context of nursing work environment in the area of clinical decision-making and

inter-professional practice, particularly in the area of wound management.

Outline of Thesis

This thesis includes six chapters. The quest to identify which dressings may be left in

place during radiation leads into the next chapter, which reports on literature review (Phase I) of

the study. Chapter Two describes the literature review undertaken to glean existing knowledge

in relation to radiating through wound dressings and an analysis of current gaps in the research

literature. In the third chapter, the research design, conceptual framework, methodology and

related procedures of the study are described. In addition, a description of the sampling, data

collection and analysis approach as well as considerations of ethical and research quality

elements of the study are presented. Chapter Four includes quantitative findings of the national

environmental scan survey (Phase II), which are supplemented by qualitative description and

followed by a thematic explanation of the semi-structured telephone interviews (Phase III).