Perspectives on the Process of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy at Home in Patients With Chronic Wound: A Qualitative Descriptive Study

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the experience of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) at home among Chinese chronic wound patients. Qualitative descriptive study design was adopted, and qualitative data were collected through semistructured in-depth interviews. A purposive, sampling method was used. Informants were recruited from one single wound healing center of a teaching hospital and were interviewed following one course of NPWT at home. A thematic content analysis was undertaken in the framework of input-process-output theory to guide analysis. Of the 13 participants interviewed, 9 were female and 4 were male with an age ranging from 20 to 69 years. Two major categories with their corresponding codes were identified. The first, positive experience, had 6 codes: high-degree identity and feeling hope (input); easy operation and convenience (process); improvement of symptoms and effective treatment (output). The second category, negative experience, had 11 codes: high expenditure, defects of the NPWT device, health education deficiency, and lack of independence and rationales in making decision of NPWT (input); poor communication with wound professionals, unexpected circumstances, therapeutic side effects, and a change of self-image (process); impact on physical symptoms and daily life, impact on social activities, and impact on psychological well-being (output). Patients considered the NPWT at home as a promising regimen, but they also had a feeling of not being prepared and lack of health education to make medical decision independently. The participants’ perceptions and experiences would provide valuable information to promote the intervention program of health education and advance service process optimization.

Consensus on the health education of home-based negative pressure wound therapy for patients with chronic wounds: a modified Delphi study

“…The components of health education before carrying out home-based NPWT included the basic information, cost, process, possible abnormal conditions and impact on daily life of NPWT at home [ 11 , 12 , 32 , 33 ]. If this part of health education is scant or incomplete, patients may lack independence and rationale in making decisions regarding NPWT [ 25 ]. However, the experts thought that the ‘contraindication of home-based NPW’ was not the information that patients needed to understand, and the statement was ruled out in the first round of consultation.…”

“…Prior to conducting this study, we adopted a qualitative descriptive study design to explore the experience of NPWT at home among Chinese chronic wound patients (published in another journal [ 25 ]). The participants’ perceptions included health education deficiency, lack of independence and rationales in making decisions regarding NPWT and poor communication with wound professionals.…”

Metatarsal Head Resection Versus a Removable Mechanical Device for Offloading of the Neuropathic Diabetic Plantar Forefoot Ulcer

“…Diversity of management methods for neuropathic DFU treatment exists, which means that nothing is satisfactory on its own. 15 The following methods usually are adjuvant to healing, such as hyperbaric oxygen, 16 wound matrix, 17 platelet-rich plasma application or injection, 18 vacuum-assisted closure, 19 growth factors, and stem cell therapy. 20 However, unequal distribution of the mechanical pressure over the foot plantar areas can hinder the healing process or cause ulcer recurrence.…”

Nurses’ Readiness to Undertake Controlled Negative Pressure Therapy in the Treatment of Chronic Wounds—Research Report

“…The use of NPWT in local wound treatment procedures is an increasingly frequent therapeutic option recommended by scientific societies. In order to maintain the continuity of treatment and minimize the potential risk of infection, it is preferable to treat the wound in a hospital setting and to continue treatment in outpatient care [ 15 ]. Standardized therapeutic protocols and specialist care for patients with chronic wounds, conducted by trained medical personnel, positively determine the quality of life of patients by reducing the risk of complications, improving their ability for self-care and, in principle, shortening the duration of therapy without the need for frequent hospitalization.…”