[German national consensus on wound documentation of leg ulcer : Part 2: Routine care - classification of variable characteristics].

BACKGROUND

Standards in the assessment and documentation of disease processes are the basis of guideline-based care. For the treatment of chronic wounds, especially leg ulcers, no approved parameters are available.

OBJECTIVES

Against this background, our aim was to develop standards for the documentation of leg ulcer in routine care. This article presents the recommendations for the classification and characteristics of the variables.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The development of the documentation standard was based on a systematic literature research and was performed in a Delphi-based consensus process. The national consensus process included meetings as well as web-based questionnaires. The Consensus Group is coordinated by the German Center for Health Services Research in Dermatology (CVderm).

RESULTS

The documentation standards and their variables for leg ulcer routine care were developed in seven meetings of the consensus group. The consensus group consists of 38 delegates of wound care societies, health insurances, wound networks and associations.

DISCUSSION

For each variable, recommended in routine care, a distinct response scheme (defined set of variable characteristics) was defined. As a next step, a structured implementation process is required, which was part of the resolutions of the consensus group.