Nurses' views about pain and trauma at dressing changes: a central European perspective

This study investigated nursing and medical practitioners' perceptions of pain and trauma at dressing change in three German-speaking European countries: Austria, Germany and Switzerland. It follows a similar study by Hollinworth and Collier conducted in the UK.

A total of 3300 questionnaires were posted to practitioners in the three countries. All of the practitioners had attended at least one educational event on wound management organised by the researchers. The questionnaire contained closed questions about the participants' experience of dressing change and pain, their place of work and their freedom to select wound management products.

A 15.1% response rate was achieved. The main aim at dressing change was to prevent trauma to the wound (30%) and to prevent infection (29%) and pain (21%). Dressing removal (51%) and wound cleansing (41%) were cited as the phases of dressing pain most likely to cause pain. Factors perceived to cause pain during dressing changes included dressings that adhere to the wound area (35%), particularly direct adherence to the wound (29%) and dried-out dressings (28%). Techniques used to prevent pain included rehydrating dressings. The responses also pointed to insufficient knowledge about low-adherent or non-adherent dressings among some respondents.

The respondents perceived dressing removal and wound cleansing to be the most painful wound-care interventions. Their key objectives were to prevent pain and trauma at dressing changes. Lack of information on low- and non-adherent dressings needs to be addressed.

This study was funded by Mölnlycke Health Care AG, Switzerland.