PGW5204 - Acute and chronic wounds - 2018

This unit will examine the management of the person with an acute, chronic or atypical wound. Acute wounds may range from simple lacerations to more complex surgical wounds while chronic wounds are those where healing has been delayed. Chronic wounds may include venous leg ulcers, arterial and mixed arterial-venous ulcers, diabetes-related foot ulcers and pressure injuries while atypical wounds may include inflammatory ulcers and less common aetiologies such as pyoderma gangrenosum and neoplastic ulcerations.

At the completion of this unit students will be able to:

1. Contrast and compare similarities and differences between acute and chronic wound healing.
2. Identify evidence-based measures for surgical wound management including dressings, techniques, topical treatments and care of sutures, staples and tissue adhesives.
3. Evaluate the appropriate use of antiseptics, disinfectants and antimicrobial agents in the management of wound infection.
4. Appraise management approaches for chronic wounds such as venous and arterial leg ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers and pressure injuries.
5. Identify barriers to the appropriate use of compression bandaging and hosiery and propose interventions to overcome them.
6. Analyse the psychosocial impact of a chronic wound on the individual's quality of life.
7. Describe assessment and management strategies for patients with atypical wounds.
8. Communicate effectively with patients to improve concordance with wound care management plans for acute, chronic and atypical wounds.

Two minor assignments: 30%

Major written assignment: 50% (hurdle)

Participation in online tutorials: 20%

Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. The unit requires on average 10-12 hours of scheduled activities per week. Scheduled activities may include teacher directed learning, reading time, participation in tutorials or discussion groups, research and preparation for assignments.

See also Unit timetable information

Wound care