Evaluation of the effect of wound care practices on wound healing processes in individuals with diabetic foot ulcers (2-year retrospective analysis)

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) are a very common complication of diabetes that are extremity threatening challenging wounds. Treatment is difficult and complex. Early intervention prevents prolonged hospital stays and wound dressings. The prevention of ulcer formation is the key. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of wound care practices on the wound healing process in patients with (DFU). Our study was carried out retrospectively and is both descriptive and cross-sectional. The population of the study consisted of 120 patients diagnosed with (DFU) between January 2020 and January 2022 at the Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery Department of Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University Health Practice and Research Hospital. The sample of the study included 100 patients who met the research criteria between the specified dates. Questionnaires were used to collect patients' data. The form includes information about the demographic and medical; history of the patients, wound evaluation and wound care practices. Descriptive statistics and Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal Wallis, Chi-square and Spearman correlation analysis tests were used in the analysis of the data. Of the patients, 71% (n=71) were male, 29% (n=29) were female, the mean age was 56.10 (SD=13.02), 65% had Wagner 2 wounds and wound healing time was 24.17 (SD=12.49) days. 26% of the patients were re-admitted to the hospital, 84% developed diabetic foot infection, and 10.64% of the patients were amputated and 47% of the patients were sutured. wound care in patients with nephropathy, foot deformity and with positive culture , developing (DFUs) infection, surgical debridement, negative pressure wound closure (NPWT), silver alginate dressing, wound healing times are longer and platelet rich fibrin (PRF), Growth Factor , wound surface is less than 1 cm2 and wound depth is less than 0.5 cm" wound care +Dressing+(SC/SC+GF/GF)" (healing rate=91.4% ) and of patients who underwent wound care and treatment in the form of "Debridement+NPWT +(SC+GF/GF)" (healing rate=100%); The recovery rate was statistically higher compared to patients who underwent wound care and treatment in the form of "Debridement+Dressing+NPWT" (healing rate=63.9%) (p<0.05). As a result, it can be said that NPWT, stem cell and growth factor applications in wound treatment have a positive effect on wound healing. It is recommended to conduct further studies in which new generation wound treatment applications are used. Key Words: Diabetic foot; diabetic foot ulcer; wound care; nurse; patient outcomes; wound healing time.