Research of hard-to-heal ulcers has been carried out in the county of Blekinge during the past 20 years. One result of the long-term clinical research is the web based quality registry, RUT, developed at Blekinge Wound Healing Centre. Accurate diagnosis and effective treatment has led to reduced prevalence, care time and costs, in Blekinge (150.000 inhabitants) by 1 million Euro from 1994 to 2005.
The aim of the registry is to become a nationwide base by achieving a systematic and accurate assessment of hard-to-heal ulcers and in planning and delivering appropriate ulcer care for the whole country. The principal objective of the registry is to offer a guide-driven practice, thereby improving healing rates and efficiency.
Patients are registered at inclusion and at end-point, i.e. ulcer healing. Data include among others age, smoking habits, BMI, co morbidity and medication. Ulcer history and data on the actual ulcer are registered: ulcer duration, size, localisation and treatment.
At ulcer healing, the following parameters are registered: healing time, number of dressing changes until healing, antibiotics and also the aspects of ulcer pain and advices on smoking cessation, diet and exercises.
Standard reports give the possibility to compare the single unit’s results with the aggregated results of the whole database. Feed-back is also given in annual reports.
Registry Manager Rut Öien
M.D, PhD, general practitioner and medical manager of Blekinge Wound Healing Centre.
Lyckeby Health Centre, S- 37162 Lyckeby, Sweden
rut.oien@ltblekinge.se