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. 2023 Nov;20(9):3802-3820.
doi: 10.1111/iwj.14219. Epub 2023 Jun 5.

Effects of home-based chronic wound care training for patients and caregivers: A systematic review

Yao Huang  1   2 , Jiale Hu  3 , Ting Xie  1 , Zhaoqi Jiang  1 , Wenjing Ding  4 , Beiqian Mao  1 , Lili Hou  5
Affiliations

Effects of home-based chronic wound care training for patients and caregivers: A systematic review

Yao Huang et al. Int Wound J. 2023 Nov.

Abstract

We aimed to review and synthesise the evidence of the interventions of patients' and informal caregivers' engagement in managing chronic wounds at home. The research team used a systematic review methodology based on an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews (PRISMA) and recommendations from the Synthesis Without Meta-analysis. Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trial of the Cochrane Library, Pubmed, Embase, CINAHL, Wanfang (Chinese), and CNKI database (Chinese) were searched from inception to May 2022. The following MESH terms were used: wound healing, pressure ulcer, leg ulcer, diabetic foot, skin ulcer, surgical wound, educational, patient education, counselling, self-care, self-management, social support, and family caregiver. Experimental studies involving participants with chronic wounds (not at risk of wounds) and their informal caregivers were screened. Data were extracted and the narrative was synthesised from the findings of included studies. By screening the above databases, 790 studies were retrieved, and 16 met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Studies were 6 RCTs and ten non-RCTs. Outcomes of chronic wound management included patient indicators, wound indicators, and family/caregiver indicators. Home-based interventions of patients or informal caregivers' engagement in managing chronic wounds at home may effectively improve patient outcomes and change wound care behaviour. What's more, educational/behavioural interventions were the primary type of intervention. Multiform integration of education and skills training on wound care and aetiology-based treatment was delivered to patients and caregivers. Besides, there are no studies entirely targeting elderly patients. Home-based chronic wound care training was important to patients with chronic wounds and their family caregivers, which may advance wound management outcomes. However, the findings of this systematic review were based on relatively small studies. We need more exploration of self and family-oriented interventions in the future, especially for older people affected by chronic wounds.

Keywords: caregiver; chronic wound; home care; systematic review; wound care training.

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Conflict of interest statement

The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
PRISMA flow diagram for study identification and selection process.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Risk of bias graph.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Risk of bias summary.
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Outcomes of chronic wound management.
FIGURE 5
FIGURE 5
Type of intervention.
FIGURE 6
FIGURE 6
Description of educational intervention.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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