Priority topics for chronic wound research in Australia: a consensus study

Aim To achieve consensus on priorities for chronic wound research in Australia. Methods A three-round modified online Delphi survey using RAND/UCLA methods was undertaken to seek consensus from a random sample of Australian multidisciplinary expert chronic wound practitioners and researchers. Participants rated their agreement/disagreement on a nine-point Likert scale for each potential research topic. Customised software calculated median scale scores and 30–70% inter-percentile range for each item. Results A sample of 20 practitioners and researchers were invited and 12 agreed to participate. After three rounds, 102 topics achieved consensus as national priorities, including 26 items on diabetes-related foot ulcers, 25 on pressure injuries, 17 on mixed chronic wounds, and 16 on venous leg ulcers. The highest rated topics included pain management, compression therapy to prevent venous leg ulcers, pressure injury management for heels and wheelchair users, and compression therapy adherence. Conclusion This study found that while diabetes-related foot ulcers and pressure injury topics had the greatest number of consensus national priority topics for chronic wound research in Australia, pain management, compression therapy for venous leg ulcers and pressure injury management were the highest rated priorities. These findings could be used to target funding for national grant schemes.