Wound care practices across two acute care settings: A comparative study.

Only two hospitals in Queensland were studied, and wards were volunteers, so the practices may not represent other hospitals. Nurses were observed giving usual care, so they may have changed their practice because they knew they were being watched. The study compared observed care and documentation, not patient outcomes such as infection, pain, or healing. Documentation in electronic or paper records may not show whether wound care actually happened, because some care may have been omitted from notes. Different data collectors worked at each hospital, and agreement between trainers and trainees was modest. Observations were done on weekdays, when most surgical activity occurred, so weekend care was not described.

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Do not read the low hand hygiene after dressing change as evidence that patients developed infections. The study observed wound care practices and documentation, but it did not measure infection or other patient outcomes.