DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY AS SUPPORT FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF CHRONIC WOUNDS IN A UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL IN TOCANTINS
Chronic Wounds. Dressings. Clinical App. Scoping Review. Digital Technology.
The treatment of chronic wounds involves a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals, with nursing playing a central role in monitoring, assessment, and application of therapies. The incorrect selection of dressings can not only delay the healing process but also trigger additional complications such as recurrent infections, increased pain, unpleasant odors, deterioration of adjacent tissue, and higher care costs for both the patient and the health system. In this context, this project aims to conduct scientific research to support the creation of a clinical application focused on the assessment of chronic wounds, identifying the most appropriate dressings for therapeutic management based on the main factors that delay healing. Although this research focused on application in the Hospital for Tropical Diseases of Tocantins, it was designed to be easily extended to the entire EBSERH network. It comprised four stages: literature review, development of a decision tree, creation of pseudocode, and development of a digital technology prototype. The prototype is expected to offer accurate decisions, be easy to use, optimize professionals’ time, thereby reducing errors in wound assessment and the use of inappropriate dressings, and contribute to better tissue repair outcomes and positive patient experiences