Wet-to-dry gauze dressings: Fact and fiction

Armstrong, Margaret Heale and Price, Patricia Elaine 2004. Wet-to-dry gauze dressings: Fact and fiction. Wounds 16 (2) , pp. 56-62.

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Abstract

Background. The aims of this research were to identify what actually constitutes a wet-to-dry dressing, explain why it is used, and describe how specialist nurses interpret this technique. Method. A descriptive exploratory questionnaire was sent to a convenience sample of general surgeons in New Hampshire and Vermont. Nine wound, ostomy, and continence nurses were interviewed as key informants. Results. The research showed that wet-to-dry dressings and gauze are commonly prescribed for situations where there is little evidence to support their use, such as with open surgical wounds healing by secondary intention. It demonstrated that there is inconsistency among surgeons and specialist nurses on how the technique should be performed, particularly relating to whether the gauze should be dry or moist when removed. Although 75 percent of respondents had access to more sophisticated dressings, reasons for not using these dressings included conflict with traditional approaches to wound care, lack of education, and cost issues. Conclusion. These data suggests that a more professional multidisciplinary approach to wound care, which is firmly evidence based, needs to be developed.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Healthcare Sciences
Subjects:	R Medicine > RT Nursing
Publisher:	Wounds
ISSN:	1044-7946
Last Modified:	04 Jun 2017 04:03
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/31798

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