J Wound Manag Res.  2022 Oct;18(3):170-177. 10.22467/jwmr.2022.01991.

Evaluation of a Mobile Wound Care Device for Assessment of Wounds: A Time Motion Study

• Choo BP
• Low JTE
• Oh HC
• Ong L
• Loh JK
• Png GK

• KMID: 2535920
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.22467/jwmr.2022.01991

Abstract

Background
Comprehensive wound assessments are critical in identifying potential complications that affect wound healing and determining appropriate interventions for the patient. A wound care device (WCD) comprising a mobile device integrated with multi-spectral sensors that can capture stereoscopic and thermal images was recently introduced. A trial was conducted to assess potential productivity gains of the device.
Methods
A total of 30 inpatients who required wound care were recruited and assessed via a time motion study. For every patient recruited in this study, wound measurements and documentation steps were repeated twice for a total of 55 wounds, once using the WCD and the other using a conventional manual process, with the order of assessment determined using a random group assignment generator. A t-test was used for statistical analysis.
Results
The use of the WCD had a mean process time 4.86 minutes shorter than the conventional manual process (P<0.001). This constituted an increase in productivity by 44% for wound measurement, photography, and documentation. With estimated time savings of 5 minutes per patient, this amounts to 6,631 hours per year or a total of 3.42 nursing full-time equivalent savings per year based on an estimated load of 218 patients per day requiring wound care at an acute care institution in Singapore.
Conclusion
The adoption of a mobile WCD has potential to improve work productivity and result in full-time equivalent savings for wound care nurses. Most importantly, the WCD could provide clinically beneficial outcomes for the patient by enhancing the management and documentation of wound care.

Keyword

Wounds and injuries; Process assessment; Time and motion studies