Reflection: patients’ experiences of being treated in a Leg Club setting

Patient experiences with wound care treatment are being recognised as central to prudent care. Leg Clubs provide community-based treatment, education and ongoing health promotion and care for people with leg-related problems. This article considers the growing evidence of patients’ experiences of being treated in a Leg Club setting. Six participants from a Leg Club setting were interviewed via a semi-structured interview, and interviews were transcribed verbatim and investigated for themes using interpretative phenomenological analysis in accordance to Smith et al (2009). An overarching theme, the holistic approach to treatment, was identified, with two subthemes: Leg Club education and a sense of autonomy and trust in Leg Club staff. This study revealed the importance of a holistic approach to treatment within a Leg Club setting, and adds to, and compliments, the body of evidence

Reducing SSI rates for women birthing by caesarean section

Surgical site infections (SSIs) are the most common type of nosocomial infection, accounting for up to 20% of all hospitalacquired infections in Europe (European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control [ECDPC], 2013). There are varying SSI rates reported across the UK. In 2016, Public Health Wales reported an overall 14-day SSI rate for women undergoing caesarean section of 4.35% — 83% of which were superficial infections and 92.5% were detected after discharge (PHW, 2016). From 2015–2016, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board (ABUHB) services experienced an increase in the SSI rate for women birthing by caesarean section from 3.07% to 5.86% respectively. Therefore, a multifaceted approach to quality improvement (ABUHB organisational method) was adopted throughout the duration of 2017, with a view to implement by 2018. The aim was to reduce SSIs for women birthing by caesarean section in ABUHB. Interventions included the use of evidence-based practice and guidelines, education and engagement among clinicians, patients and staff, and the gradual implementation of Leukomed® Sorbact® (Essity) post-operative dressings

HUG: A compassionate approach to designing for wellbeing in dementia care

Design can improve the quality of life of people living with dementia but creating successful design solutions is not simple, due to the complexity of the medical condition, and the ethical considerations of including those affected in design research and evaluation. This article describes research involving an interactive product, ‘HUG’, developed from academic research, to support the wellbeing of people living with advanced dementia, which is now commercially available. People affected by dementia were included at every stage in the design research process. The evaluation of HUG took place in both hospital and care home contexts with 40 participants living with dementia. In this paper, a qualitative hospital study is described, in which patients received a HUG on prescription. Findings reveal that although HUG was rejected by some, those patients who did accept it benefitted significantly. Not only did the device reduce distress, anxiety and agitation but it also helped with patient compliance in medical procedures, aspects of daily care and enhanced communication and socialisation. The Alzheimer’s Society’s accelerator partnership funding has enabled this product to be manufactured and made commercially available so that the benefits of this academic design research can be made more widely available to people living with dementia