Dressing selection can be overwhelming and it’s no wonder with thousands of different dressings available. With such a wide variety of products to choose from, it’s important that you know the types of dressings available, when and when not to use them, and how to use them effectively.
Fortunately, like medications, dressings typically fall into generic categories or classes. Understanding the generic category of the product, their actions, indications, contraindications, advantages and disadvantages for use, will help with decision making.
When evaluating the performance of your dressings, ask yourself these questions:
- Does the dressing stay intact and remain in place for an extended wear time?
- Prevent leakage between dressing changes?
- Does it provide a moist wound healing environment?
- Protect the periwound skin?
- Reduce wound-associated pain?
- Reduce or control wound odour?
- Does the person with the wound find the dressing conformable and comfortable?
- Is the dressing easy to apply and remove without causing trauma to the wound or periwound skin?
- Are the dressings cost-effective (remembering that cheap isn’t always cost-effective)?
- Supported by evidence and resources?
If you’re still not sure what dressings to select, then you might want to check out the A to almost Z of Wound Dressings. It contains information on the most common types of dressing products available with useful hints and tips to guide dressing selection.
Order online now: A to almost Z of Wound Dressings.
Written by Dr Michelle Gibb, founder of Wound Specialist Services.