The evaluation of skin lesions, according to the Toven Method - an interprofessional communication tool

In the wound care field, effective communication within the interdisciplinary staff is essential and the use of tools that foster it is important. The use of a common language among professionals in the assessment and monitoring process, along with documentation of the outcome, avoids the useless repetition of performances by professionals, with a considerable save of time.

One year after its publication, we wanted to evaluate the effectiveness of the Toven Evaluation Form as an interdisciplinary communication tool, for the assessment of cutaneous lesions, according to the Toven Method.

The instrument got under observation also allows the graphic recording of the characteristics of the skin lesions (size, wound conditions, undermining and perilesional skin) according to specific pre-established rules, in an easy and intuitive way for the evaluator and the rest of the multidisciplinary team. It is an integral part of the Toven File. An anonymous, specially created questionnaire containing 20 questions was used for its evaluation.

A fact-finding inquiry was initiated by recruiting a multidisciplinary sample of 101 professionals who managed skin lesions in their activity. Before completing the form, all the participants attended a two-hour training course, which took place through a lecture and a practical session.

Sample composition: 76.2% females, 23.8% males; 63.4% nurses, 10.9% Wound Care Specialist nurses; 16,8% doctors; 8.9% physiotherapists. Of these, 69.3% had work experience >5 years. The technical quality of the instrument was considered excellent by 83.2% of professionals and good by 16.8% of them. The data recorded with the aid of the instrument were considered complete by 100% of the sample. Furthermore, 99% of the sample interviewed declared that the tool is easy to use and would be interested in including it in daily practice; 100% declares that the use of the form can facilitate its work, which can be easily understood and used by the entire multidisciplinary team and which can be an effective tool for the improvement of interdisciplinary communication.