Objective-To compare the

This study suggests that reductions in costs and improvements in healing rates can be sustained in a mature community leg ulcer clinic programme staffed by specialist leg ulcer nurses.

Background: This study targeted the association of program characteristics of 203 Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) programs in the United States (US) reported by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) in their 2017 Annual Accreditation Report (AAR) with measures of core faculty research volume. The association of institutional, program, and faculty characteristics of an institution with core faculty research volume was investigated. Methods: This observational study analyzed data provided in the AAR about program research volume. Predictor variables included institutional, program and faculty characteristics. Research volume was measured as a ratio of 1) number of peer-reviewed publications, 2) National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding, and 3) faculty with grants, per number of core faculty. Research volume was stratified by quartiles and analyzed using logistic regression analyses. The highest 25% were analyzed against the lowest 75%. Results: In the multivariate logistic regression analyses, research Carnegie classification was positively associated with NIH funding (OR = 4.04; 95% CI = 1.92, 8.48) and number of peer reviewed publications (OR = 7.63; 95% CI = 3.39, 17.14). Square footage of research space was positively associated with number of peer reviewed publications (OR = 4.58; 95% CI = 2.08, 10.11). Private status was negatively associated with NIH funding (OR = 0.37; 95% CI = 0.17, 0.83) and faculty holding grants (OR = 0.38; 95% CI = 0.19, 0.76). Conclusions: There is strong evidence that research culture (e.g., research Carnegie status and dedicated research space) is related to research productivity in DPT programs in the US. Private status was indicative of a non-research intensive environment, which may be reflective of a current trend of small, non-research based private institutions initiating DPT programs.

No abstract

This small study was undertaken to evaluate a new four-layer bandage (4LB) system (Ultra Four, Robinson). The aim was to provide initial user information about the product and compare it with the previously used original Charing Cross 4LB system. Subjective evaluations of the comparative performance of the Ultra Four system were assessed using a weekly treatment questionnaire in 30 patients. Both patients and nurses commented on the usability of each individual layer and the overall performance of the new system over a period of up to 12 weeks or until healing. After 12 weeks 15/30 ulcers (50%) had healed. Using life table analysis, allowing for patients who failed to reach 12 weeks, the expected healing rate was 65%. The performance of each individual layer was considered similar to those of the Charing Cross 4LB in terms of wear and tear, slippage and ease of removal. However, there was an indication that the fourth layer provided superior wear and tear at the heel and better ease of application and ease of removal than the original. After one week of treatment the Ultra Four system was rated better than the original 4LB for wear and tear at the heel in 15/28 patients (54%), for overall wear and tear in 12/25 (48%), for ease of application in 9/27 (33%) and for ease of removal in 11/26 (42%). This study relied on the nurses' experience rather than a direct comparison between bandages. However, it does indicate that the relative performance of products may help nurses to make decisions when objective comparative data are not available.