1 Aisling English (Final Year Pharmacy Undergraduate Student) 2 Dr Zena Moore (Supervisor) 1 School of Pharmacy, 2Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery , 1,2Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin 2, Ireland

1. The Role of the Pharmacist as a Member of a Multidisciplinary
Team in Wound Management - A Systematic Review
1 Aisling English (Final Year Pharmacy Undergraduate Student) 2 Dr Zena Moore (Supervisor)
1 School of Pharmacy, 2Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery , 1,2Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin 2, Ireland

2. Background
 Wounds are a significant global problem
impacting negatively on health and social gain
 Due to the complex nature of wounds, a
multidisciplinary approach is required to
ensure the delivery of cost effective, efficient
care pathways1
 Pharmacists, as members of an integrated
wound team, have the potential to contribute to
enhancing patient outcomes and delivery of
care

3. Aims and Outcomes
The aim of this systematic review was to
investigate the role of the pharmacist as a member
of a multidisciplinary team in wound
management
Primary Outcomes
 Reduction in wound severity
 Improved healing rates
 Reduction in wound infection
 Reduction in incidence
amputations
Secondary Outcomes
Reduction in costs
Reduction in pain
Reduction in nursing time
Improved service delivery

4. Eligible Studies and Search
Strategy
 All studies which included a multidisciplinary approach
to wound management with a particular emphasis on
the role of the pharmacist were eligible for inclusion
 The following databases were searched from 1993-2012
Pubmed
The Cochrane Library
Ovid EMBASE
EBSCO CINAHL
Web of Knowledge
Science Direct

5. Search Results
403 Hits 19 Articles
Identified
12 Articles
Retrieved
7 Papers
Not
Eligible
5 Papers
Eligible

6. Data Extraction and
Analysis
 Data were extracted onto pre-designed
data extraction tables. Quality appraisal
was per the CONSORT statement, as
appropriate
 Owing to the methodological diversity of
the studies located, no meta analysis or
meta synthesis was possible. Therefore a
narrative summary of the studies was
provided

7. Findings
 Three major themes related to some, but not all of
the primary and secondary outcomes, were
identified
 These themes included reference to:
Reduction in wound severity
Improved healing rates
Reduction in wound infection
Reduction in costs
Reduction in pain
Improved service delivery

8. Discussion
 The three major themes were identified relating
specifically to the pharmacist’s role in wound
management and included:
Improving patient safety
Cost avoidance
Enhanced clinical outcomes
 There was a lack of robust evidence to support or
refute the role of the pharmacist in wound
management

9. Discussion
 The pharmacist is an
integral member of the
multidisciplinary
group and has a key
role in wound care
 However, their role in
wound management as
a member of a
multidisciplinary team
has not been well
researched

10. Conclusions and Implications
for Research
 This review identified three key areas where the
pharmacist had an important impact: cost
avoidance, enhancing clinical outcomes and
improving patient safety
 However, little evidence is available that has
specifically explored their role
 Further research in this area is warranted owing
to the lack of attention to the pharmacist’s role
in wound care

11. References
1. Bokhour, B.G. (2006) Communication in interdisciplinary team meetings: what are we
talking about? Journal of Inter-Professional Care. 20: 349-363
2. Vu, T., Harris, A., Duncan, G., Sussman, G. (2007) Cost effectiveness of multidisciplinary
wound care in nursing homes: a pseudo-randomized pragmatic cluster trial. Family
Practice.24: 372-379
3. Patel, N.P., Brandt, C., Yowler C.J. (2006) A prospective study of the impact of a critical care
pharmacist assigned as a member of the multidisciplinary burn care team. J Burn Care Res.
27: 310-313
4. Baker, T.L., Boyce, J., Gairy, P., Mighty, G. (2011) Interprofessional management of a
complex continuing care patient admitted with 18 pressure ulcers: a case report. Ostomy
Wound Management. 57(2): 38-47
5. Bhowmik, D., Chiranjib, B., Yadav, J., Chandira, M.R. (2009) Role of community pharmacist
in management and prevention diabetic foot ulcers and infection. Journal of Chemical and
Pharmaceutical Research. 1(1): 38-53 6. Malek, J. (2008) Diabetic foot – what a pharmacist
can do. Continuing Professional Development. 30: 656-658
6. The author is deeply grateful for the assistance and contributions of Ms. Grainne McCabe,
Librarian, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI)

12. The Role of the Pharmacist as a Member of a Multidisciplinary
Team in Wound Management - A Systematic Review
1 Aisling English (Final Year Pharmacy Undergraduate Student) 2 Dr Zena Moore (Supervisor)
1 School of Pharmacy, 2Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery , 1,2Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin 2, Ireland