Aim: To evaluate whether switching to a multilayered, bordered, silicone-coated foam dressing (SFD) alongside structured clinical training reduces dressing changes and costs while maintaining or improving wound management in primary and home care settings. Method: Outpatients with hard-to-heal wounds that had been managed with foam dressings (other than the study dressing) were recruited. Data on foam dressing use in the seven days prior to the baseline assessment was recorded. Clinicians received structured training on SFD use and wear time. Eligible patients’ wounds were then dressed with SFDs for up to four weeks alongside standard care. Patient comfort, satisfaction and pain were recorded and clinicians evaluated dressing performance. Results: Thirty-seven patients completed the evaluation. The median number of SFDs changed within the seven days before the final visit was significantly less than that for previously used dressings (1 vs 3; p<0.001), equating to a 44% cost reduction. Despite poor prior healing, an average reduction in wound size of 68.7% from baseline to final visit was observed, with 32.4% of wounds fully healed. Clinicians rated SFDs highly across all assessed attributes. Patients reported less pain and better comfort. No dressing-related adverse events were reported.
Conclusion: Using SFDs with clinician training reduced dressing frequency and costs while improving wound outcomes and satisfaction of both patients and clinicians. However, due to the small sample size, short follow-up, and lack of a randomised comparator, further investigation using robust methods is needed.