Nurses' views about pain and trauma at dressing changes: results of a national survey

Research findings and professional concerns that patients still experience pain and tissue trauma at dressing changes led specialist nurses to develop a postal questionnaire to elicit the views of 1000 nurses with an interest in wound management. The questionnaire asked practitioners to identify the primary considerations underpinning their approach to pain and tissue trauma at dressing changes, the strategies they adopted, and the factors which determined their treatment choices. The higher than anticipated response rate (37%) illustrates the importance nurses attach to this aspect of practice. The practitioners' main considerations during dressing changes were the need to prevent trauma to the wound (47%) and to avoid causing the patient pain (34%). Significantly, 81% noticed that patients experienced most pain when dressing products were removed, highlighting the need to re-emphasise the principles of moist wound healing. A total of 225 respondents (60%) were aware of dressings specifically designed to prevent pain and trauma during dressing changes. Practitioners also had the freedom to use the product of choice all (61%) or most (36%) of the time. However, respondents also demonstrated confusion about the properties and availability of many dressings. Recommendations for practice include reviewing the number of dressings currently available, together with ongoing education and update on all wound management dressing products and related issues.