Skin tears: introducing best practice

Abstract

In an Essity-sponsored symposium, three key opinion leaders discussed the importance of developing, sharing and applying best practice in skin tear management. Camila Fronzo summarises the key points presented at the EWMA and Journées Cicatrisations conference 2021 This conference report offers an introduction to the symposium ‘Skin integrity: introducing best practice in skin tears’, held in October as part of the joint European Wound Management Association (EWMA) and Journées Cicatrisations virtual conference 2021. The first speaker, Karen Campbell, listed the individual and mediating factors that could affect skin tear development. She then summarised the three types of skin tears, and mentioned the dos and don'ts when treating these wounds. The next speaker, Wendy White, highlighted the importance of creating awareness, changing perceptions and implementing change around skin tear management. She shared the results on staff education from a recent quality improvement project, aimed at improving skin integrity and reducing skin tears in an aged care facility in Western Australia. The third and final speaker, Sitthichai Rees, presented further findings from the same project, focusing on the effects on skin tear incidence. His call to action can be followed by any health professional managing skin tears.