Impact Of Diversity In Pressure Ulcer Diagnosis Across Different Skin Tones // Proactive Wound Healing: A Protocol of care for Pressure Ulcers
The first part of the webinar, titled 'Impact Of Diversity In Pressure Ulcer Diagnosis Across Different Skin Tones' provides a compelling exploration of a critical aspect of pressure ulcer care - the impact of diversity in diagnosis across varying skin tones. Pressure ulcers remain a major challenge for health care providers and their accurate assessment is of paramount importance. This presentation addresses the complicated relationship between diverse skin tones and pressure ulcer diagnosis and seeks to uncover potential disparities and solutions for equitable healthcare.
By focusing on the intersection of skin tone diversity and pressure ulcer diagnosis, the presentation aims to unravel the nuances that can hinder or promote accurate detection across different ethnic backgrounds. Varied levels of melanin and distinct tissue characteristics influence the appearance of pressure ulcers and can lead to diagnostic discrepancies. This presentation uses a multidisciplinary approach that brings together insights from clinical practice, research, and technological advances to unravel the complexity of skin tone variations in pressure ulcer diagnosis.
It addresses both challenges and opportunities and emphasises the need for inclusive and culturally sensitive diagnostic practice. This presentation is consistent with the overarching goals of advancing pressure ulcer prevention and management through interdisciplinary collaboration and evidence-based practices. The presentation provides a platform for healthcare professionals, researchers, and stakeholders to engage in a stimulating dialogue about the importance of diversity in the diagnosis of pressure ulcers. By promoting a deeper understanding of the impact of different skin tones, the presentation contributes to the pursuit of equitable care and ensures that pressure ulcer diagnosis remains effective regardless of variations in skin pigmentation.
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The second session is kindly sponsored by ConvaTec, on how pressure ulcers incur unsurmountable cost to all aspects of healthcare. They are painful, debilitating and can have a lifelong impact on patients’ physical, psychological and social well-being. Many pressure ulcers remain unhealed for more than 12 months with complex challenges faced daily by healthcare workers, carers and families. Furthermore, the greater the severity of pressure damage, the greater the risk of wound infection, osteomyelitis and sepsis.
This session will briefly cover the impact of patients living with pressure ulcers, the holistic assessment of patients’ needs, preventative strategies and more specifically, where ulceration has occurred, how deterioration can be prevented and how healing can be promoted following the four simple steps of Wound Hygiene.
Dr. Beeckman has held visiting professorships at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Monash University in Australia, and the University of Southern Denmark. As past president of the European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (EPUAP) and the International Skin Tear Advisory Panel (ISTAP), he has made a significant contribution to wound care. He is also a board member and honorary treasurer of the European Wound Management Association (EWMA).
At Ghent University, Dr. Beeckman takes on the role of programme director for the Master of Nursing and Midwifery programme. He leads two research groups, the Skin Integrity Research Group (SKINT) at Ghent University and the Swedish Centre for Skin and Wound Research (SCENTR) at Örebro University. His areas of expertise are skin integrity research, clinical trials, education, implementation strategies, instrument development and psychometrics.
Dr. Beeckman is the author of over 200 scientific publications and has presented his research findings in more than 80 countries. His contributions also extend to editorial roles, including serving as an Associate Editor for the International Journal of Nursing Studies and editorial board member of the Journal of Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing and the Journal of Tissue Viability.
Dr. Beeckman has been awarded international fellowships from prestigious organisations such as the Sigma Theta Tau International Honour Society of Nursing, the European Academy of Nursing Science (EANS) and the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN).
I completed a Masters Programme in 2019 on Evidence for Health and Social Care where my interest in biofilm began to grow and my dissertation appraised the most effective strategies for biofilm-based wound care in clinical practice, leading to the implementation of evidence-based guidance for the management of hard to heal wounds. Working alongside industry, I have been fortunate to speak at the EWMA conference 2019 in Gothenburg on biofilm based wound care. In 2020 I was invited to take part in the Wound Care Today Facebook Live Streams delivering a presentation on Moisture Associated Skin Damage. Most recently, I have been privileged to both Chair and speak at a conference in Birmingham, with a focus on the science behind hard-to-heal wounds and evidence-based interventions.
Following completion of her PhD studies in 1995, she was employed in various posts at Aston University, including lecturer and senior lecturer and was Director of the M.Pharm. programme prior to moving to the University of Huddersfield in 2010 as Professor of Pharmaceutics. During this time, she also became a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and supervised projects on the application of e-learning technologies in Pharmacy. She was also a Medici Fellow, specialising in driving forward innovation within the university sector and hold several patents in the pharmaceutical area. She has supervised over 20 Ph.D. students and on-going research programmes focus on chrontherapeutic delivery and delivery of antimicrobials, novel excipients for drug delivery, the mechanical properties of pharmaceuticals and excipients and the development of chewing gum delivery systems.
She has a number of successful collaborations with other universities, NHS and pharmaceutical industry leading to publications and development of new products.
