Reviewing the use the aetiology-specific T.I.M.E. Clinical Decision Support Tools to promote consistent holistic wound management and eliminate variation in practice

This study aimed to explore the experiences of non-wound care specialists using the T.I.M.E. (Tissue, Infection/inflammation, Moisture imbalance and Edge of wound) Clinical Decision Support Tool (CDST) to help guide the management of chronic wounds and to understand if they could use the tool to make informed decisions ensuring appropriate early intervention. The tool has been further developed to help support clinicians to assess different wound types – namely venous leg ulcers, pressure ulcers/injuries (PUs/PIs), diabetic foot ulcers and dehisced surgical wounds. Methods: The four aetiology-specific T.I.M.E. CDSTs were evaluated by three clinical specialists in centres in Malaysia, The Netherlands and The USA. Each specialist asked non-specialists to use and evaluate the tool on three or four different patients over a 4-week period and report how the tool influenced practice. Results: Responses indicated that the aetiology-specific T.I.M.E. CDST was easy to use, enhancing confidence, encouraging evidence-based decisions and supported wound assessments, particularly aiding the assessment of tissue type. Conclusions: the aetiology-specific T.I.M.E. CDSTs facilitates decision-making and provides guidance for non-specialists on the most appropriate treatment intervention for the different wound types.