Can you contribute to new research project?

Researchers are urging registered nurses working in the community as part of a District Nursing Team to contribute to a new study.

A research project, being led by the University of Surrey, wants to hear from nurses working in the Kent, Surrey or Sussex area who can share their experiences of assessing early stage pressure ulcers among people with dark skin tones.

The study aims to examine the personal experiences of people with dark skin tones and how early skin changes are identified as indicative of pressure ulceration.

Its objectives are:

• To explore how people with dark skin tones and, or their family carers identify early-stage pressure ulcers in their own homes

• To identify how registered nurses working in the community assess early-stage pressure ulcers among people with dark skin tones

• To develop effective and inclusive clinical strategies to support patient safety in the prevention and assessment of pressure ulcers for people with dark skin tones.

This project will involve a two-part study design. The first part comprises semi-structured interviews with a maximum of 25 people with dark skin tones and, or their family carers, who are known to and visited by community nurses for pressure area management or have a high-pressure area risk assessment score living in Kent, Surrey or Sussex.  

In part two, three group interviews will be conducted with community registered nurses living or working in Kent, Surrey or Sussex to explore how they assess early-stage pressure ulcers among people with dark skin tones. All interviews will be carried out online, written up and then analysed using advanced software to help develop themes.

The findings from both study parts will be employed to gain insight into how early-stage pressure ulceration is identified among people with dark skin tones.

The findings will be used to reduce health inequality by influencing and informing clinical policies and strategies in practice.

Findings will also lead to the development of patient-informed educational strategies which will enable the early identification of pressure ulcers among people with dark skin tones.

This study is the responsibility of Dr Neesha Oozageer Gunowa, Senior Lecturer and Community Pathway Lead at the University of Surrey, and also involves Professor Debra Jackson as a collaborator from the University of Sydney.  Professor Jackson has a special interest in health inequities and has published broadly.  Other team members include Dr Afrodita Marcu, Research Fellow in Cancer Care and Professor Katriina Whitaker, Professor of Psychology.

Participants will have the chance to win a £125 voucher.

For further information, click here