Work

Wound education opportunities for rural and regional health care sectors of Australia. A scoping review

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The aim of this review was to examine the existing literature describing wound care education opportunities for healthcare professionals working in rural and regional areas of Australia. A scoping literature review was undertaken in December 2023, aligned with PRISMA-ScR guidelines, and searched academic databases and grey literature with no publication date limitations. This scoping review identified limited wound care education programs tailored for rural and regional Australia. Most were delivered by nurses online or via video conferencing as an educational program to improve clinicians’ access to evidence-based knowledge. One program offered ongoing mentorship. Consistent positive outcomes included increased confidence among health professionals and improved quality patient care. None of the seven studies reviewed focused specifically on wound care for Indigenous populations. This scoping review indicated limited information. While there are wound care education opportunities, addressing the specific challenges of rural regional areas has not been well addressed in the literature. Despite a paucity of literature, anecdotally, there is a clear need for healthcare professional wound care education to be tailored to the specific issues in rural/regional areas. • Limited educational opportunities existed for health care professionals working in rural and remote areas of Australia in relation to wound care • Most educational programs were offered as an online or via video conferencing medium. • Pressure injury care was one of the more common focal points of wound care • Only one program offered ongoing mentorship for health care professionals • All programs were positively welcomed and valued by health care professionals working in rural and remote areas of Australia

Source: Journal of Tissue Viability

DOI: 10.1016/j.jtv.2025.100959