British Journal of Community Nursing 

About: British Journal of Community Nursing is an academic journal published by MA Healthcare. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): District nurse & Medicine. It has an ISSN identifier of 1462-4753. Over the lifetime, 3229 publications have been published receiving 20667 citations.

Wound exudate: composition and functions.

Abstract: Wound exudate is all too often perceived as a clinical management problem. While this can be the case, it should be recognized that exudate does fulfil an important function in the healing process. Gradual acceptance of the benefits of moist wound healing, combined with the current goals of the ‘ideal’ moist environment, focuses attention on the role of exudate. This review is intended to define the components and functions of ‘normal’ exudate and differentiate it from abnormal exudate.

Innovation in practice: mobile phone technology in patient care.

Abstract: Mobile phones are becoming increasingly important in everyday life and now in healthcare. There has been a steady growth of information and communication technologies in health communication and technology is used progressively in telemedicine, wireless monitoring of health outcomes in disease and in the delivery of health interventions. Mobile phones are becoming an important method of encouraging better nurse-patient communication and will undoubtedly increase in application over coming years. This article presents recent developments and applications of mobile technology for health promotion and patient-monitoring in chronic disease.

Improving chronic disease management.

Abstract: Chronic disease accounts for nearly 80% of spending on health care, so it is not surprising that a different approach to care delivery is a priority for the NHS. By 2008 all primary care trusts will be expected to have implemented case management approaches alongside existing initiatives such as the expert patient programme (Department of Health, 2004) and so contribute to a reduction in costly unplanned admissions.

Defined and refined: criteria for identifying wound infection revisited

Abstract: Clinical criteria for the identification of wound infection are regularly based on a list created by Cutting and Harding (1994). This list was established from empirical data generated in a large, multidisciplinary clinical practice, and is now widely accepted as a seminal article in wound care. Both Cutting (1998) and Gardner et al (2001) have conducted validation exercises on these wound infection criteria, based on the assumption that the criteria broadly apply to most wound types. Although many of the original criteria do apply across the spectrum of wound types, the major categories of wounds should be considered separately to avoid the possibility of overlooking the presence of infection. The focus of this article is a review of the published literature on wound infection criteria for acute and surgical wounds, diabetic foot ulcers, venous and arterial leg ulcers, pressure ulcers and burns. All known criteria for each wound type are presented, as well as an outline of the ongoing research project to refine the criteria by wound type using a Delphi panel technique. No attempt has been made to correlate visual signs and symptoms with microbiological sampling techniques. It is clear that there are subtle variations between infection criteria for wound types and that these should be recognized if treatment is to be given appropriately and promptly, and morbidity avoided.

Patient-reported outcome measures: an overview.

Abstract: With the increasing prominence of the patients' involvement in the care they receive, the assessment of outcomes based on the patient's perspective using patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), are increasingly accompanying the traditional clinical ways of measuring health and the effects of treatment on the patient. This article provides an overview as to what PROMs are and the different health constructs they are purported to measure. Differences between generic and disease-specific, multidimensional and index scored PROMs are also described. Factors relating to the choice of a PROM are discussed with a particular focus on the importance of developing a measurement strategy and endpoint model to ensure the appropriate PROM is selected to measure the desired outcome. Examples of the application of PROMs are given together with some of the methodological approaches to interpreting PROM data. Finally, issues on maximizing the benefits of using PROMs are briefly discussed.