Assessment, management and prevention of chronic wounds in the Australian context: a scoping review

Aims: To identify the current research on assessment, management and prevention of chronic wounds in Australia and within the global context.

Methods: Electronic databases, trial registries and professional organisation websites were searched from 1 January 2010 to 31 May 2022. All original human research studies on chronic wounds conducted in Australia and reviews (systematic reviews (SRs), evidence-based guidelines (EBGs), evidence summaries, consensus documents) conducted worldwide were included. Results were tabulated and synthesised in a narrative review.

Results: Overall, 365 Australian studies and 569 worldwide reviews were included. The designs of Australian studies were mostly cohort (31%) or cross-sectional (20%), with a few randomised trials (10%). Australian studies were mostly concentrated on wound management (43%) or assessment (40%), and only 17% on prevention; this profile was similar for worldwide reviews. The chronic wound types focused on in Australian studies were 43% pressure injuries (PIs), 27% diabetes-related foot ulcers (DFUs), 16% venous leg ulcers (VLUs), 8% mixed chronic wounds, 6% mixed leg/foot ulcers, <1% fungating wounds.

Conclusions: This review found Australian chronic wound research focused on PIs and DFUs, with few randomised trials (10%), which is likely related to the lack of national competitive funding and difficulties in infrastructure support for adequately powered trials.