Volume 42 Number 3

As COVID-19 and variants inhibit less of the world’s populace from congregating, many members of the WCET^® fraternity have grasped opportunities to gather in person (or virtually) at recent international and national forums to share and acquire new knowledge, reinvigorate their professional passions and re-connect with old and/or make new acquaintances.

Such events have included WCET^®/WCON Joint Congress in Texas June 2022; the Joint European Wound Management Association WMA and Journées Cicatrisations Conference in Paris May 2022; the virtual Inaugural Global ‘A World Without Skin Tears’ Day in April 2022 hosted by the International Skin Tear Advisory Panel; Wound Awareness Week in Australia in July 2022 and many more.

These gatherings assist in raising political and community awareness of the burden of disease or trauma that result in ostomies, wounds, or skin disorders. In addition, the associated ramifications for affected individuals, their caregivers, health service providers and governments are highlighted. Further, the importance of and need for specialist nursing services in prevention and management is emphasised.

With this understanding also comes a level of responsibility to ensure that as health professionals or clinicians we keep abreast of current trends in research, education and practice and, where possible, share our knowledge and experience to improve communities of practice within our respective specialties.

Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the Congress in Texas. However, within the WCET^® BullETin there are some wonderful exposes of the Congress. Within this issue we are delighted to share several abstracts from the Congress. Ideally, we would like all authors of posters and presenters of papers to consider going one step further and reflect on Dr Elizabeth Ayello’s comments as outgoing President of WCET^® on the importance of shared expertise to improved patients’ outcomes. Elizabeth stated “W: WRITE: Words matter! Get the work that you have done PUBLISHED, regardless, if you have developed new approaches into bed side enablers, tested or made creative clinical solutions or did fully fledged research work. If it is not written, it is not done”.

Although infection rates from COVID-19 may be decreasing, there is still much to learn from the lived experiences of clinical staff who managed or are still managing consumers who are critically ill with COVID-19, often under difficult circumstances. Eveline et al from Indonesia present two case studies of critically ill consumers with COVID-19 who required intensive care and who developed pressure injuries. The intensive care unit was within a makeshift hospital and compounded by a scarcity of resources.

Comprehension of terminology used in the assessment of stomas and wounds is fundamental to collective clinical understanding, correct treatment options and positive consumer outcomes. Professor Keryln Carville is the second of our WCET^® recipients of the 2022 Life Achievement Award bestowed by the World Union of Wound Healing Societies to share her expertise with us. Along with her fellow colleagues, Prof Carville describes how an online Delphi model was used to seek Australian wound, ostomy and continence nurse and colorectal surgeons understanding and consensus of frequently used terms such as stomal, parastomal and peristomal complications. Other terms clarified related to allergic dermatitis, mucocutaneous granuloma and tension blisters.

Dr John Stephenson, in his third expose on statistics, guides us through the application of descriptive statistical analysis to summarise data collected and which tests are best used to extract information and/or present the results found. Common terms used in descriptive analysis such as categorical and numerical, mean, median, standard deviation and interquartile range are explained. Examples of when best to use tables or graphs to précis volumes of data with reference to actual wound management studies are provided.

It always interesting to read of treatments for wounds that have often been used for hundreds of years that are experiencing a re-emergence or undergoing further scientific validation. Haesler, within the WHAM Evidence Summaries, reviews the use of turmeric and associations with wound healing. While it appears there is insufficient evidence to support the use of topical turmeric preparations to facilitate wound healing, evidence suggests the use of oral turmeric as an adjunct therapy in selected patients receiving radiotherapy may be beneficial in reducing the severity of radiation dermatitis. Being able to re-assess and comprehend the evidence for alternative non-western therapies is important for those providing wound skin ostomy care in less well-resourced countries.

Best Wishes to you all.

Jenny

Author(s)

Jenny Prentice
PhD, BN, RN, STN, FAWMA