Wound Care Adherence in Mohs Micrographic Surgery: A Prospective Cohort Study

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Surgical Outcomes
• Patient Adherence

Background:

• Postoperative complications after Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) are often mitigated by detailed wound care instructions.
• However, adherence to these instructions and its impact on surgical outcomes are not well-studied, unlike general dermatology adherence.
• Previous research indicates low adherence rates in general dermatology settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the frequency and identify the reasons for wound care nonadherence in patients who underwent MMS.
• To investigate the relationship between adherence to MMS wound care and postoperative complications.

Main Methods:

• A modified Eight-Item Morisky Medication Adherence Measure Scale questionnaire was used.
• The questionnaire was administered to patients 1-2 weeks post-MMS surgery.
• Sixty-three patients completed the survey.

Main Results:

• The average adherence score was 7.4 out of 8, indicating high patient adherence to MMS wound care.
• Older age and assistance with wound care correlated with higher adherence.
• Reasons for nonadherence included feeling well, being busy, discomfort, and social factors.
• Only one patient (1.6%) experienced a minor complication (epidermal inclusion cyst).

Conclusions:

• The majority of patients undergoing MMS exhibit high adherence to postoperative wound care instructions.
• Nonadherence to MMS wound care did not correlate with adverse surgical outcomes in this study.
• Current wound care protocols appear effective in preventing complications post-MMS.