A survey of UK nurses about their care of people with malignant fungating wounds

Abstract

BackgroundMalignant fungating wounds (MFW) are nonhealing wounds affecting people with advanced cancer. There is currently no research evidence on who delivers care for people’s MFW in the UK and what care these professionals deliver. This survey focussed on nurses who deliver care for people with MFW to find out more about their roles and the care they deliver, and to explore perceived barriers and facilitators to delivering care for these wounds.MethodAn online anonymous survey was conducted among nurses who provide wound care for people with MFW across the UK. Study data were collected using Qualtrics XM software and analysed with SPSS.ResultWe received 154 questionnaire responses. Respondents were tissue viability nurses, community nurses and other specialist nurses. The main reported MFW-related management aims were to manage wound odour, exudate, pain and bleeding, and prevention of infection. The top-ranked treatment aim was pain management followed by odour management. The most reported antimicrobial dressing was topical silver, and the non-antimicrobial dressing was superabsorbent. Access to MFW care training is reported as a barrier to providing care to people with MFW as is a lack of local and national guidelines. Availability of dressings, access to training, and good communication processes were reported as facilitators.ConclusionThis is the first study that explored MFW wound care practices in the UK. A range of nurses are involved in care delivery with variations in the treatments used. Lack of access to MFW care training, resources, and standardised guidelines may impede care delivery.