The UK contribution to the 2ndWorld Union of Wound HealingSocieties Conference

Last summer the Union ofWound Healing Societies heldits second conference in Paris (July 8-13 2004). We arepleased to reproduce abstracts from invited UK speakersat this important event. We would like to thank the WorldUnion for permission to reproduce these abstracts. Theseabstracts have not been peer reviewed by the Journal ofTissue Viability and have been reproduced as presentedin the conference abstract book.

Human costs of pressure ulcers: A reviewP. PriceThe development of pressure ulceration is a problemassociated with a number of concomitant conditions anda range of symptoms, and although little research hasbeen completed on the impact on everyday life, there isan understandable assumption that it profoundly affectshealth-related quality of life. Qualitative work has shownthat the impact of pressure ulcers is wide ranging, withphysical social and financial aspects affected, whilstchanges in body image and the loss of independence /control are profound (e.g. Langemo et al 2000). Studiesthat have used validated health-related quality of lifetools (e.g. Clark 2002, Franks et al 2002) have used theShort-Form-36 in conjunction with tests of physicalfunction (such as the Bartel). Franks et al (2002) haveshown that whilst there is a negative impact on health­related quality of life for patients with pressureulceration, this is similar to other patients treated withinthe community setting with other conditions. Clark(2002), reporting on a cohort of 2,507 patients, hashighlighted the difficulties of using generic self-reporttools with this patient population. There are a number ofchallenges that professionals in this area need to consider,for example, as a condition specific tool for pressureulceration is not available to use alongside generictools, then it is difficult to assess the impact ofnew treatments in terms of the direct impact of thepatient. Many patients in this group will not be able tocomplete a self-report of impact on health-related qualityof life, which raises the issue of the use of proxy ratingsfor some patients. In addition to reviewing the currentliterature, this presentation will raise questions ofmethodology and ethics that related to this importanttopic..

VOL 15 NO.2 MAY 2005

Quality of life in patients with chronic legulcerationP. PriceIn wound care over the past 10 years there has been aslow but important growth of research in the area ofhealth-related quality of life (HRQoL) as applied topatients with chronic wounds, such that a few reviewpapers are now available that pull together some of theknowledge we have on how the experience of chronicwounds can impact on HRQoL for many patients. Thispresentation will summarise the research available relatedto health-related quality of life in patients with chronicvenous ulceration. Qualitative and quantitative studieswill be presented in order to fully appreciate the range ofwork that has been completed in this area. Qualitativestudies are now available from a number of countries,using a range of qualitative methodologies: the themesthat emerge from the studies emphasise that lack ofmobility and pain are key experiences for these patients.Quantitative studies have used generic tools, such as theNottingham Health ProfJe and the SF-36: such studieshave indicated that compared to sex and age matchednorms, the quality of life of these patients is particularlypoor. Data using condition-specific tools is still limited,but appear to confirm that pain, symptom managementand fear of recurrence have a profound impact onHRQoL in patients with chronic venous ulceration.Although we have made substantial progress inunderstanding the everyday experiences of such patients,we have yet to fully incorporate HRQoL into clinicalresearch and clinical audit to demonstrate how treatmentoptions or service delivery can improve HRQoL for thesepatients.

Pyschological problems in post burnsscarsN. RumseySuccessful recovery from burn injury requires phYSical,occupational and psychosocial rehabilitation. Commonpsychosocial difficulties include dealing with theaftermath of trauma, functional limitations and dealingwith an altered appearance post burn. Distress resultsfrom problems incorporating the post burn appearanceinto the existing self image, and anxieties about thereactions of others. Those affected are troubled by a range

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