Exploring Self-Perceived Competence and Challenges in Wound Management Among Primary Healthcare Physicians—A Survey Study

Abstract

The aim of this study was to identify the competencies and challenges in the care of chronic wounds experienced by general practitioners. An online survey study targeted at primary care general practitioners in the City of Helsinki. The survey was created using REDCap and sent via email to the participants. Data were analysed with descriptive statistics. Thirty-two participated in the study. A third considered the primary diagnostics difficult (N = 9/31, 29.0%). The determination of the appropriate urgency (N = 17/31, 54.9%), specialty of referral (N = 12/31, 38.7%), compression therapy (N = 16/31, 51.6%), offloading (N = 14/31, 45.2%) and the nutritional support (N = 19, 61.3%) were challenging. Over half felt that insufficient resources (N = 15/27, 55.6%), pressure and time constraints (N = 19/27, 70.4%) complicate the care. The majority (N = 15/27, 55.6%) considered the role of a general practitioner to be crucial, but (N = 16/27, 59.3%) felt that improving wound care within primary care would yield better outcomes. General practitioners consider themselves skilled in wound aetiology diagnostics but not in treatment, where they estimated their skills as weak. Inadequate resources hinder the treatment of chronic wounds, and over half of respondents were unsatisfied with current care. Establishing primary care centres specialising in wound care could improve treatment.