Improving Confidence Levels in Wound Care Education: A Harm Reduction Strategy for People Who Inject Drugs

People who inject drugs (PWID) are at high risk for disease transmission and bacterial invasion of the blood and/or skin. PWID are a marginalized population who often delay medical treatment or substitute self-care treatment due to increased fear, barriers, or stigmatization in traditional healthcare settings. These delays often create multifaceted complications that eventually cost the healthcare system billions of dollars. This leads to poorer health outcomes in PWID. There is evidence that community-based interventions are effective in reaching this population of people in order to promote better health outcomes.

To address this gap in care, an evidenced based project centered on increasing the confidence levels of community lay workers when providing general wound education to PWID was conducted. The project was implemented at a rural harm reduction agency site in Northern Arizona. Utilizing the theoretical framework of the Adult Learning Theory, a convenience sample of 22 participants received a general wound education intervention consisting of a PowerPoint presentation with a written brochure over multiple sessions.

Adapted questions from the new general self-efficacy (NGSE) scale, which has demonstrated valid internal consistency, were utilized to measure confidence levels of participants and a scored checklist was used to measure teaching performance. Confidence levels significantly increased from baseline to week four (p = .001). Teach-back performance scores also increased from baseline to week two and four. Providing a general wound education intervention to community lay workers improved confidence levels and teaching performance which can promote better health outcomes in PWID.