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Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulations www.practical-patient-care.com Media Information In association with: WUWHS Logo Why is Practical Patient Care essential reading? Today’s healthcare providers are faced with the hugely challenging task of optimising medical treatment for patients, while minimising operational costs. The level of care provided plays a crucial role in health outcomes, from initial diagnosis to discharge. Technology, as in other industries, is rapidly evolving and is improving the quality of healthcare. It is not only making processes more efﬁ cient and effective for professionals and patients, but also reducing costs. Practical Patient Care is published with medical practitioners and senior managers in mind. It provides the news and information that they need to enhance healthcare delivery, improve patient outcomes, while adhering to a strict budget. Expert Opinion from Industry Partners Practical Patient Care is proud to be afﬁ liated with a number of industry leading bodies and associations. With the shared objective of educating the healthcare market we have featured key opinion pieces from the following associations: European Wound Management Association British In Vitro Diagnostics Association World Union of Wound Healing Societies European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Association of Molecular Pathology National Institute for Health and Care Excellence World Health Organisation www.practical-patient-care.com Editorial Contributors Past and present contributors include... Practical Patient Care offers some of the most comprehensive editorial coverage for the healthcare sector:’ Diagnostics: Professor Clare Turnbull, Royal Marsden Hospital Whole exome sequencing for heart disease Spider inspired sticky tape to heal wounds Nassos Typas, European Molecular Biology Laboratory New candidate cancer genes identified Sparing painting fibre bandages Bekim Sadikovic, London Health Sciences Centre using mathematical models onto wounds Doris-Ann Williams, BIVDA Blood test for melanoma Healing gloves for wound care Infection Control: Skin test for neurological decisions New defensive mechanism against Lona Mody, University of Michigan bacterial wound infections Optimising infection prevention Martine Caris, OLVG Hospital Amsterdam Non-invasive ventilation Nancy Chobin, Sterile Processing University Tailored ‘cell sheets’ to improve post- Keith Kaye, Society for Healthcare Epidemiology operative wound closing and healing Simulations before surgery of America Better hand hygiene to prevent infections Non-invasive imaging for thyroid disorders Wound Care: Sue Bale, European Wound Management Operating room technology Operating room technology Wound care Wound care Association Researchers from Charité – Universitätsmedizin Comic-style presentation is able to recognise common wound types a well as of information could Berlin, one of the largest university hospitals in help patients to atypical characteristics in order to identify the best Nutritionist Europe, were inspired by the idea that a picture better understand course of treatment. Problems with the assessment is worth a thousand words and wanted to test the procedures they can result in failing to recognise the early signs of are undergoing. Physical Podiatry Dr Xudong Wang, University of Wisconsin-Madison whether comic-style information might be more infection or wound deterioration, which can result Therapy easily digested by patients. The team focused in more expensive treatment, the use of antibiotics on cardiac catheterisation, the most common or hospital readmissions. procedure in the field of cardiology. A systematic approach needs to be taken Comic The provision of medical information within to determine wound aetiology and underlying Vascular Endocrinology a comic format is seemingly an unusual choice causes, and thus obtain an accurate diagnosis. but was a carefully considered decision by This often entails multiple steps, including a researchers. A key factor was the realisation biopsy, which provides a histopathologic diagnosis Professor Adrian Gombart, Oregon State of the ineffectiveness of the current method of and identifies a skin disorder that is not responding informing patients about cardiac catheterisation. to current treatment. “We realised that patients were not as well Research published in Wounds recommends PMR Dermatology relief prepared as we would wish them to be, even a biopsy for diagnosing inflammatory, though the physician was communicating all microthrombotic and bullous disorders such as University’s College of Science aspects of the investigation and they were non-atherosclerotic ischemic ulcers, inflammatory receiving a standard written consent form,” anxiety as well as informing them about conditions, malignancies, infections, autoimmune Wound Nurse Psychiatry says Anna Brand, lead investigator and cardiologist the treatment. bullous disorders, venous ulcers, neuropathic at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin. “They In order to put the comic-style booklet to the ulcers, medication-induced wounds, pressure Ortho/Plastic still had several questions at the beginning of test, the team recruited 121 individuals scheduled ulcers and traumatic wounds. Surgery the procedure.” to undergo cardiac catheterisation. Patients A challenging If a punch biopsy performed in an outpatient received either the standard informed consent setting cannot confirm a suspected diagnosis Professor Sean Murphy, Wake Forest Baptist Better by design procedure or the standard informed consent with in a wound that has failed other treatment an unknown cause. It causes large painful ulcers Atypical wounds, as with Researchers looked for alternative approaches additional comic-style information. Using a range measures, a surgical biopsy that can sample a to form, mainly on the legs, but they can also other types of wounds, also require treatment to presenting the information. They stumbled of questionnaires administered before and after the larger area of tissue may be needed. In cases occur anywhere on the body as a secondary by clinicians from a upon graphic medicine – a growing field in the provision of the information, researchers assessed where the biopsy does not help diagnose the complication of any skin cut or trauma. An range of disciplines. US and France, in particular – which uses comics levels of comprehension and anxiety in addition to landscape wound aetiology, the clinician should review example is Bullous pemphigoid, a rare autoimmune the satisfaction with the consent process. the patient’s medical history again. Medical Centre to communicate information to patients and their inflammatory condition of unknown cause. This Before undergoing surgery, families, as well as educating students. The comic-style booklet was found to be Atypical wounds include a broad spectrum of conditions of these wounds are underdiagnosed. Typical Some newer oncology drugs can also trigger is where the immune system creates antibodies patients must be fully “We thought that comics might help in the significantly superior to the standard information. challenges include considerable diagnostic skin reactions. Tracking the timing of chemotherapy against its own tissue. caused by inflammation, infection, malignancy, chronic informed about what the informed-consent procedure because text is too delays and prolonged healing times – for example, is therefore essential, as it can be the cycle of illnesses or genetic disorders. An atypical wound may be procedure entails, yet the complex for patients who lack knowledge of their inflammatory and vasculopathy wounds (such the medication, not just the medication itself, disease and its treatment,” says Brand. “Patients who read the comic before the suspected if the wound has an abnormal presentation or as pyoderma gangrenosum, an inflammatory causing the wound. “Many atypical wounds have an enormous complex nature of the content Together with Alexandra Hamann, a science procedure could answer 12 of 13 questions location and does not heal following a good treatment plan. neutrophilic disorder, and cutaneous vasculitis). impact on the quality of life in the affected provided means they often feel communication specialist, Brand and Professor correctly on the multiple-choice test that was The European Wound Management Association (EWMA) In addition, many atypical wounds have an Atypical wound treatment individuals, and a multidisciplinary team overwhelmed. New research Verena Stangl from the medical department, enormous impact on the quality of life in the Normal wound care therapies tend not to be assessing comprehension.” discusses its work to increase awareness about the clinical approach is necessary to ensure patients receive shows that comic-style division of cardiology and angiology on Campus affected individuals, and a multidisciplinary team effective and when treating atypical wounds it picture, diagnosis and treatment of these wounds. high-quality treatment in a timely fashion.” information can be helpful. Charité Mitte, developed a storyboard based on the approach is necessary to ensure patients receive is also essential to control the underlying disease standard consent form for cardiac catheterisation. “Patients who read the comic before the high-quality treatment in a timely fashion. process. This includes evaluating and managing Operating Room Technology: Emma Green speaks to The team went to great lengths to optimise the procedure could answer 12 of 13 questions

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