Wound Care Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices and Mobile Health Technology Use in the Home Environment: Cross-Sectional Survey of Social Network Users

Public Knowledge About How Common Chronic Diseases Affect Wound Healing Postoperatively in Aseer Region

Background

Wound healing has classically been described to occur in three phases, regardless of the mechanism of injury. These phases are the inflammatory, proliferative, and remodeling phases. Chronic diseases adversely affect the wound healing process, and more needs to be done for different policies, such as adjustment of drug therapy, diet, or behavior to help rapid wound healing. Diabetes, auto-immune diseases, obesity, malnutrition, cardiovascular disease, chronic renal disease, and cancers are the frequent co-morbidities affecting wound healing.

Aim

To assess the public knowledge about how common chronic diseases affect wound healing postoperatively in Aseer Region.

Methodology

A descriptive cross-sectional study targeting the general population living in the Aseer region for at least a year. Data were collected using a pre-structured electronic questionnaire initiated by the researchers after an intense literature review and experts’ consultation. The study questionnaire covered participants’ data, smoking and medical history, surgical history, and participant knowledge items. A questionnaire was used as a digital survey and distributed to all participants in a private and anonymous process.

Results

A total of 502 participants completed the study questionnaire. Participants' ages ranged from 18 to 60 years, with a mean age of 34.6 ± 12.9 years old. A total of 294 (58.6%) participants were males, and 341 (67.9%) were university graduates. Exact 430 (85.7%) know that Supervision and control of Diabetes Mellitus help in wound healing, 369 (73.5%) reported that Chronic diseases delay wound healing, and 449 (89.4%) think that commitment to therapeutic and preventive plans before and after any surgical procedure contributing in rapid wound healing for chronic diseases patients. As for the effect of chronic diseases on a surgical wound, 320 (63.7%) reported delayed wound healing, 241 (48%) knew it may increase the infection, and 186 (37.1%) reported it might Decrease blood supply to the site of a wound.

Conclusions

In conclusion, the study revealed that more than half of the population in Aseer regions were knowledgeable regarding the effect of chronic diseases on post-optative wound healing, especially for the benefit of a commitment to therapeutic and preventive plans before and after any surgical procedure.

The Effect of an Educational Intervention on Self-Care in Patients with Venous Leg Ulcers-A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Although patients with venous leg ulcers are involved in ulcer management, little is known about why and how these patients self-treat their ulcers without direct supervision by health professionals. Yet patients’ knowledge of ulcer management can be important for achieving ulcer closure and/or preventing recurrence. This study thus investigates the effects of an educational intervention on knowledge of self-care among patients with venous leg ulcers, mainly on wound dressing practice, compression therapy, physical activity and nutrition. Methods and participants: This research was conducted in three outpatient hospitals in central Croatia. An educational brochure was made and distributed to patients; patients were surveyed about caring for venous leg ulcers before the brochure was distributed and after 3 months. Results: In total, 208 patients were involved in the study: 112 in the experimental group and 96 in the control group. The educational intervention increased awareness of compression therapy, knowledge of recurrence prevention, appropriate lifestyle habits, and warning signs related to venous leg ulcers. Conclusions: Patient education on illness and self-care is necessary to achieve positive effects in self-care knowledge. In this study, patients learned how to change dressings, learned how to improve their lifestyle, and were empowered to deal with their illness.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding wound care among general population in Aseer region

Background:

Wound care is observed to be one of the major challenge in health-care system. Wound infection is one of the major issues in medical treatment. There is limited information regarding knowledge and attitude of patients regarding care of traumatic wound. This study was conducted to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding wound care among general population in Aseer Region, Saudi Arabia.

Materials and Method:

This cross-sectional study was a questionnaire-based study conducted on general population from time period from September 2020 to November 2020. The demographic data collected were age, gender distribution, marital status, residence, job profile, income, education, habit of smoking and any comorbidities. To analyze the knowledge, attitude and practice of general population regarding wound care, 28 well-constructed questions were framed and asked. The response to all these questions was recorded and subjected to statistical analysis.

Results:

A total of 897 participants were included in the study. In total, 56.74% subjects of age group 41–60 years of age. In around 80% participants, no co-morbidities were observed. Around 29% participants had previous experience of surgical wound, with most common wound site being abdomen. The most common symptom in around 58% participants was excessive bleeding. Use of Alcohol swab and dry gauze were commonly used by participants as wound care measures.

Conclusion:

We observed that knowledge, attitude and practices followed by patients were not up to the standard. As patients' knowledge, good attitude and practices are important in implementing newer management technique; thus, we advice to take necessary steps to improve the attitude and knowledge of general public.