Comparison of Satisfaction Levels between Conventional and Silicone-Adhesive Polyurethane Foam Materials in Patients with Skin Wounds

Abstract

Background: Polyurethane (PU) foam dressing materials have been widely used in commercial wound dressing applications. However, the repeated application of adhesive tapes to keep the foam dressings in place can result in minor injuries to the peri-wound skin. Silicone-adhesive PU foam dressing materials have been developed to prevent such injuries. In this study, the satisfaction levels between conventional and silicone-adhesive PU foams were assessed through a survey of patients and physicians.Methods: A survey study of 140 patients with skin wounds was conducted in a single institution between July 2019 and May 2020. The patients were first treated with either conventional PU foam or silicone-adhesive PU foam, after which they were asked to record their levels of pain, adhesiveness, waterproofness, and satisfaction. At the next visit, dressings of the other material were applied to their wounds, and the same assessment process was repeated at the next dressing change.Results: The silicone-adhesive PU foam dressings demonstrably reduced the levels of dressing-related trauma and pain, compared to that of patients treated with conventional PU foam dressings. The silicone-adhesive PU foam dressings were also associated with substantially higher scores of satisfaction and waterproofness. In comparison, the mean adhesiveness score was superior in the group treated with conventional PU foam dressings, compared to that of the group treated with silicone-adhesive PU foam dressings.Conclusion: Silicone-adhesive PU foam contributed to minimizing pain during dressing change and increasing patient’s comfort. As a result, patients preferred dressing with silicone-adhesive PU foam over conventional PU foam.