Renae Spencer¹, Dr Kate Miller¹

¹Pegg Leditschke Burns Centre, Queensland Children’s Hospital, Brisbane, Australia

Abstract:

The aim of this paper was to review our practices in prescribing compression garments and silicone in newly healed burns post translation of recent research¹ assessing the effectiveness of scar management approaches in the paediatric population. Our Occupational Therapy (OT) team wanted to explore the implementation of this research, question our clinical reasoning for or against the use of pressure garments, and as our ultimate vision; ensure consistency as a team in our clinical reasoning, and how we engage with families to formulate an appropriate intervention plan for their individual needs.

This translational audit included: (1) Team translation of research discussion; (2) chart audit to look at the patients we prescribed a compression garment and/or silicone to in the year prior to the study taking place, and compared this to the two years following its translation into practice; and (3) used a clinical case study survey to understand clinical reasoning consistency of OTs and surgical burn consultants in their approach to conservative scar management.

The presentation will describe key elements discussed in our translational discussions as a team; our compression garment prescription rate changes; the consistency of our practice in terms of conservative scar management approaches and details of those patients who we continued to offer combined compression and silicone treatment to.

References:
¹Wiseman, Jodie, Ware, Robert S., Simons, Megan, McPhail, Steven, Kimble, Roy, Dotta, Anne and Tyack, Zephanie (2019).Effectiveness of topical silicone gel and pressure garment therapy for burn scar prevention and management in children: a randomized controlled trial. Clinical Rehabilitation, 34 (1), 026921551987751-131. doi: 10.1177/0269215519877516

Biography:

Renae graduated from the Australian Catholic University in 2018. She was thrown into the burn care world as a new graduate and loved the challenge, ensuring a patent/family approach to care, and the forever changing environment it offers. The translation of compression garment research was her first experience of assessing our practices, and looking at how the research and clinical worlds interface.