Establishing an education program for chronic wound care in China

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Wound Care Management
• Public Health Initiatives

Background:

• Chronic wounds pose a significant health challenge in China.
• Variability exists in wound care knowledge and skills among healthcare professionals across different regions.
• The need for standardized, high-quality chronic wound care education is evident.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement and evaluate a comprehensive 3-year wound care training program in China.
• To enhance the skills of physicians and nurses in managing chronic wounds, particularly in diabetic mellitus patients.
• To establish sustainable training bases for ongoing wound care education.

Main Methods:

• A 3-year training program developed by the Chinese Tissue Repair Society (CTRS).
• Training focused on physicians and nurses managing chronic skin wounds, including those in diabetic patients.
• Program sponsored by the World Diabetes Foundation and Coloplast Access to Healthcare foundation.

Main Results:

• 1618 healthcare professionals (915 physicians, 703 nurses) trained from over 200 hospitals in 21 provinces.
• Approximately 1200 patients per month benefited from the improved care.
• 13 hospitals designated as training bases for continued education.

Conclusions:

• The training program has successfully increased the capacity for effective chronic wound management in China.
• Improved wound care is expected to reduce healing times, amputation rates, and healthcare costs.
• The initiative contributes to enhancing the quality of life for patients with chronic wounds.