O-68 Sickle Cell Leg Ulcer Improvised “Available Technology Dressing” Intervention Study
Author(s):
A Barton-Gooden, J Garvey-Henry, L Benskin
Type Of Study:
- Experimental or Intervention Study
Year of Presentation:
2023
Objective: To compare self-care with improvised “Available Technology Dressings” (ATDs) against negative and positive controls for safety, effectiveness, acceptability, affordability, and improved quality of life (QoL) in Jamaicans with sickle cell leg ulcers (SCLUs) after 12 weeks.
Methods: This randomized, outcomes-blinded, non-inferiority study evaluated persistent wound and dressing change pain with FPS-R, QoL with WQoL-17 and ASCQ-Me tools, and wound size with Health-E-Pix software. Participants (n=48) with chronic SCLUs were randomized into 3 groups. 1: Usual Practice (negative control: saline-soaked, wet-tomoist gauze); 2: ATDs (semi-permeable plastic, moisturebarrier ointment,and gauze); 3: Advanced (positive control: polymeric membrane dressings)and taught their assigned protocol with demonstration/return demonstration.
Results: Given the small sample sizes (N=40; 83%) and large outliers, most parameters were too heterogeneous for meaningful calculations. However, pPotential variable biases all favored Usual Practice. Confidence Intervals (80%) between Usual Practice and ATDs for relative wound size change found non-inferiority of ATDs for effectiveness. ATD costs were half thatof Usual Practice. Because three Usual Practice participants (18.75%) developed wound infections versus none in the ATD or Advanced Groups. Mean participant score for acceptability of ATD was 4.7/5.0.
Conclusion: Improvised ATDs proved to be safe, effective, affordable, and acceptable for SCLU management in the tropics, with improved quality of life. Because SCLUs are among the most challenging of all wound types, further