Variables influencing nurses' selection of wound dressings

Despite the plethora of information currently available on wound management, many research findings fail to be implemented in clinical practice. In this study, M. Flanagan examines the question 'How does the qualified nurse select wound dressings in the clinical situation?' Twenty-four qualified nurses from a district general hospital were interviewed using a semi-structured interview schedule. The results confirmed that qualified nurses do experience difficulty selecting dressing products. Findings from this study in one hospital suggested that in many cases this was because some colleagues are resistant to change rather than because of a specific lack of knowledge about wound management.