Aim To determine the number of clients with wounds, and the types of wounds, admitted to an Australian community nursing service, and to describe their healing trajectory and cost of treatment labour and consumables.

Method Point-of-care data from three retrospective cohorts of clients admitted for community wound care between 1 November 2016 and 30 June 2021 was analysed descriptively.

Results The three cohorts comprised 41,865 clients; the median age was 74 years (interquartile range [IQR] 58–84), with 88,793 wounds. Healing is complex, and heterogeneity in healing times and costs was demonstrated as anticipated a priori. Acute wounds were the most common across all three cohorts (38–45%, 40% overall), followed by skin tears (15–17%, 16% overall), leg ulcers (13–14%, 14% overall) and foot ulcers (7–9%, 9% overall). The median length of treatment for all discharged wounds was 18–22 days. Acute wounds and skin tears had the shortest length of treatment, and benign and malignant tumours the longest. For each cohort, eight out of 10 wounds were discharged healed or were transferred to self-care. Stage 4 pressure injuries, open incisions following amputation, fistulae and venous leg ulcers (VLUs) were the most costly to manage.

Conclusion This study provides an important account of consumable and direct labour costs to treat Australian community wounds. Healing/self-care outcomes were consistently favourable.

Background Recent prevalence rates of 9% in Australia indicate that pressure injury (PI) remains a significant problem. The current methods used to detect PI are limited and can be imprecise and subjective. More recently, technology has been used in clinical practice to aid in detecting PIs.

Aim The purpose of this literature review was to describe the effectiveness of two moisture accumulation detection technologies – ultrasound imaging and subepidermal moisture (SEM) – for identifying the early development of PI in comparison to the standard visual skin assessment (VSA).

Methods A systematic search of MEDLINE, CINAHL and Embase databases was undertaken using MeSH terms. The quality of the research was evaluated using a Mixed Method Appraisal Tool (MMAT).

Results We identified five SEM and two ultrasound studies. Our findings suggest that both bedside technologies can be effective for identifying and preventing PI. However, the SEM scanner identified abnormal tissue pathology 2 days before ultrasound indicated signs of PI.

Conclusion The evidence suggests that the use of the SEM scanner may lead to a reduction of PI and a decrease in PI progression. However, there is a need for wider testing of the SEM scanner to establish optimal protocols for use in practice.

Background Compression therapy has been considered as the gold standard in the treatment for venous ulcer healing. However, there is not sufficient evidence about the effectiveness and economic analysis of different compression therapies.

Aim To compare the effects and perform an economic analysis of the monolayer high-compression elastic bandage and Unna’s boot on venous ulcer healing in patients treated at primary healthcare services.

Design and methods A blinded randomised clinical trial with a sample consisting in 100 venous ulcers in patients monitored at primary healthcare services assessing the effect of compression therapies on VEnous ulcer and Nursing OutcomeS (VENOS). Group A will receive a monolayer high-compression elastic bandage and Group B Unna’s boot. The compression therapies will be applied weekly by nurses until venous ulcer healing is completed or until the 26th week. A blinded evaluator will assess the wounds by an instrument based on the Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC) and planimetry on the first day and in the following weeks. The Short Form 6 Dimension (SF‑6D) questionnaire will be applied in the first and last assessment.

Discussion This study will provide knowledge about the effectiveness and economic analysis of using compression therapies in the management of venous ulcers in order to expand evidence that can exert an impact on the patients’ quality of life, improving the quality of professional practice, and help managers direct resources.

Trial registration NCT04703569 (ClinicalTrials.gov).

Background Diabetes-related foot disease (DFD) is one of the most common, costly and severe complications of diabetes, which poses a substantial burden on patients, healthcare systems and society. Contemporary data on the financial burden of DFD treatment in Australia is ambiguous. Therefore, the aim of this proposed protocol is to identify, summarise and synthesise existing evidence by undertaking a systematic review to estimate the costs associated with DFD treatment in Australia.

Methods This systematic review will conduct searches in MEDLINE, Embase, AMED, CINAHL, Joanna Briggs Institute EBP and the Cochrane Library from November 2011 to November 2021. Peer-reviewed articles evaluating the costs associated with DFD treatment within Australia will be included. Study quality and risk of bias will be assessed using the Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards (CHEERS 2022). A meta-analysis of estimated costs will be performed if data from included studies are sufficiently homogenous, otherwise, a narrative synthesis will be used.

Discussion The results of this systematic review will provide insight into the current economic impact of DFD management within Australia. Such data may help to inform optimisation of national service delivery and result in improved outcomes for individuals with DFD in Australia.

Registration PROSPERO Registration No. CRD42022290910