Wound management: Investigating the interprofessional decision-making process

Our aim is to develop a robust socio-geographical transferable theory outlining the basic social process used by members of an interprofessional health care team when making decisions around wound care management. Using a qualitative multigrounded theory approach, three focus groups were held at the Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre in Barrie, Ontario, Canada, comprised of 13 clinicians who participate in wound care decision-making. Data were analysed using an approach developed for multigrounded theory. A Critical Realist theoretical lens was applied to data analysis in the development of conclusions. Ten categories were identified before thematic saturation. Category interactions developed a perceived basic social process outlining how interprofessional clinicians determine how they approach wound care decisions: patient factors, scope of practice, equipment and supplies, internal clinician factors, knowledge and education, interprofessional team, assessment, wound care specialist consultation, and care plan, as well as documentation and communication. Understanding how wound care decision-making is determined by interprofessional health care providers will assist clinical leaders and policy makers in creating a foundation for determining resource allocation, allowing clinicians to use evidence-based practice to improve patient and clinician satisfaction, wound healing time, decrease costs, and prevent wound recurrence.