Compression therapy is a lifelong intervention, essential for use on patients with venous disorders or ulceration as well as lymphatic disorders or oedema.1 Prescribing compression garments can often be both difficult and overwhelming for clinicians in practice, as many factors need to be taken into consideration.
Prescribing of compression garments
Medical compression prescribed inaccurately, can lead to tissue trauma/pressure damage, particularly if the fabric rolls during wear or is too tight and digs into the skin.2 These experiences result in patients not wanting to comply to treatment options. They lose confidence in the compression treatment and can continue to live with an uncontrolled condition for years. Choosing the correct style and fabric is essential for the comfort and long term concordance for patients.
Factors to consider when prescribing
- Compression classes
- Compression standard
- Fabric stiffness
- Knitting style
- Donning and doffing of garments
- Styles/lengths/foot options
- Colours
- Supply route/procurement method
- Patient preference
medi UK's Hoisery Hunter app
Helping you to choose the best below knee hosiery solution for your patients. The Hosiery Hunter app is easy to use and considers the patient holistically to help you choose the most suitable fabric for the condition being treated. You can access and use the Hosiery Hunter app in 3 easy steps:
- Launch the app by scanning the QR code below or visiting hosieryhunter.mediuk.co.uk
- Tell the app about your patient
- Generate the order code and details for prescription
Scan the QR code to open the Hosiery Hunter app
Launch the app by scanning the QR code or visit hosieryhunter.mediuk.co.uk
This intuitive app helps to assess the patient holistically and makes suggestions as to the most suitable hosiery or wrap options for your patient. It will generate an order page with all the prescription details, which can be emailed to you. If a made-to-measure garment is needed, it will take you to an electronic made-to-measure form to complete.
The Hosiery Hunter app can be accessed on any device that has internet:
- phone (Andriod or iPhone)
- laptop or tablet
- PC or Mac
Hosiery Hunter & Wrap Hunter in practice
The original Hosiery Hunter was developed by medi UK Clinical Trainer, Megan Hunter, to simplify hosiery selection. From this well received document, we created the Hosiery Hunter app. The original hard copy/printable Hosiery Hunter and Wrap Selector documents can be downloaded below:
The tool was introduced into a tissue viability community clinic to evaluate its success on a sample of patients who required compression hosiery following a full holistic assessment. Patient scores were calculated on clinical presentation at initial assessment and suitability of the selected garment was reviewed on follow-up.
Overall, clinicians found that the Hosiery Hunter tool was easy to use, giving them the confidence to select appropriate garments, whilst meeting the individual clinical needs of patients. Suitability of the garments was ultimately judged by the clinicians’ ability to manage the condition, along with patient-led feedback.1
Evaluation
The tool has been successful in:
- Simplifying hosiery selection in a complex arena of compression
- Increasing nurse confidence in relation to compression hosiery decision-making
- Providing patient comfort and support in facilitating self-care and allowing patients to manage their own conditions
- Reducing clinician time and overall cost of care3
Sources
1 York K, Freeman N (2019) Simplifying hosiery prescribing with the Hosiery Hunter selection tool. Wounds UK 15(1): 96-103
2 Robertson BF, Thomson CH, Siddiqui H (2014) Side effects of compression stockings: a case report. Br J Gen Pract. 64(623): 316-7
3 Tickle J (2015) Managing venous leg ulcers and oedema using compression therapy. Nurs Stand. 30(8): 57-63