Identifying surgical wound care priorities from the perspectives of clinicians and health consumers in an Australian private healthcare context: a case study

Objective To identify the priorities and challenges related to surgical wound care from the perspectives of clinicians and health consumers / patients at a private hospital in Australia. Methods: Twenty-five clinical questions related to five surgical wound management topics were developed a priori and presented to four clinicians at a workshop. Questions were ranked by participating clinicians using a consensus building approach to identify the top two research priorities. One health consumer who had experience with a surgical wound was interviewed. Transcripts from the workshop and the consumer interview were analysed using a deductive approach. Results: The clinicians’ top priority questions focused on the importance of the consumer in their postoperative wound management, and the role of the wound care team in providing evidence-based care. The patient highlighted the vital role collaboration with clinicians played in the successful management of their surgical wound and continuity of care. Conclusion: Strategies to partner with consumers in the prevention of surgical wound complications can be successfully incorporated into clinical practice. Key points: What is known about the topic? While there are clear gaps in current surgical wound care practices, there is also increasing evidence that suggests wound care outcomes can improve when patients partner with clinicians. What does this paper add? Surgical wound care outcomes improved when clinicians prepared and worked with consumers using frequent education, support and assessment approaches. What are the implications for practitioners? Partnership approaches between clinicians and consumers in the prevention of surgical wound complications can be successfully incorporated into clinical practice.