
Leanne CookUniversity of Huddersfield · Department of Health Sciences
Leanne Cook
PhD, MHSc, RGN
About
85
Publications
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Introduction
Married name: Leanne Atkin
Additional affiliations
March 2004 - present
March 2004 - present
Education
May 2006 - March 2010
March 1993 - May 1996
Publications
Publications (85)
Objective
Several national and international guidelines recommend lipidocolloid technology with a nano-oligosaccharide factor (TLC-NOSF) dressings (UrgoStart dressing range, Laboratoires Urgo, France) for treating patients with chronic wounds. However, these dressings are still often reported as second-line options, potentially leading to loss of o...
Background: Debridement is key to removing devitalised tissue, debris and biofilm as part of wound-bed preparation. Unlike many other methods of debridement, mechanical debridement with a pad is effective enough to be used independently without an adjunctive method of debridement, while being more accessible than other standalone options. Objective...
Wound debridement is commonplace in expediting wound healing in the clinic. Despite this, there are limited resources available for simulation training for practitioners prior to facing real-life patients. Typically, citrus peels or porcine skin are employed in a vain attempt to improve debridement proficiency, yet these fail to provide a realistic...
The use of compression therapy is known to be effective in the management of patients with venous leg ulceration and is commonly recommended as a first-line treatment. A rare but known complication of compression therapy is pressure damage to the limb, also referred to as bandage damage, which should be categorised as a medical device-related press...
Objective
Leg ulcers are common, distressing and painful for patients, and are a significant financial burden to healthcare providers. Compression therapy is the mainstay of treatment for venous leg ulceration. Several studies have evaluated leg ulcer management and compression therapy in the community. However, little is known about the prevalence...
More than 1 million people are estimated to have lower limb venous ulceration in the UK. Such wounds are predominantly caused by sustained venous hypertension, as a result of chronic venous insufficiency, often due to venous valve incompetence or an impaired calf muscle pump. Compression therapy is key to venous leg ulcer management and the majorit...
Objective:
To internationally validate a tool for predicting the risk of delayed healing of venous leg ulcers (VLUs).
Method:
A 10-item tool including sociodemographic factors, venous history, ulcer and lower limb characteristics, compression and mobility items to determine the risk of delayed healing of VLUs has previously been developed and va...
Background
Compression therapy is a safe, effective treatment for lower leg conditions such as lymphatic insufficiency and venous hypertension. The most common method of arterial assessment is the calculation of a patient's ankle–brachial pressure index (ABPI). The need for ABPI is highlighted in many best practice statement and local policies. ABP...
The importance of the periwound skin as the ‘organ of healing’ in the skin should not be underestimated. This paper explores the numerous healing processes originating in the periwound skin, without which healing progression would not occur. This paper also explores how damage to the periwound skin is ubiquitous and can occur because of underlying...
Debridement of devitalised tissue and wound biofilm is vital to promote healing. This article introduces an innovative debridement product, ChloraSolv Wound Debridement Gel, which is as effective as a blade but also selective, atraumatic and fast-acting and does not require specialist training. Its ease of use makes it suitable for all settings and...
Foreword. Wound Hygiene: the next stage
Since a panel published the first consensus document on Wound Hygiene in March 2020, there has been a flurry of activity in support of this newly established concept in proactive wound healing. ¹ The document concluded that all wounds, particularly hard-to-heal ones, will benefit from Wound Hygiene, which sho...
This paper presents an overview of a Journal of Wound Care (JWC) webinar ‘Antimicrobial Stewardship Masterclass’ which took place on 17 June 2021, bringing together international experts in the field of wound care. The webinar was undertaken to provide an educational platform elucidating the basis of an effective antimicrobial strategy in wound car...
Objetivo: Se ha desarrollado una encuesta para comprender el conocimiento y la implementación actual del concepto de higiene de las heridas un año después de su difusión. También se analizaron los obstáculos para su implementación y los resultados.
Método: La revista Journal of Wound Care (JWC), con la colaboración de ConvaTec, desarrolló una encue...
Objective
Venous leg ulcers (VLUs) are considered the most frequent category of hard-to-heal limb ulcers. Although evidence-based care of VLUs suggests that compression therapy plays a pivotal role in the standard of care, patient adherence is considered low, with at least 33% non-compliance, either due to perceived problems from clinicians regardi...
This consensus document is endorsed by The Queen's Nursing Institute (QNI) and The Queen's Nursing Institute Scotland (QNIS).
Objective:
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has resulted in changes to caseload management, access to training and education, and other additional pressures, a survey was developed to understand current awareness and implementation of the wound hygiene concept into practice one year on from its dissemination. Barriers to implementation and...
Objective
The burden of wound care within the NHS is estimated at a cost of £5.3 billion per year and is set to rise annually by 30%. This case series describes the results of using polyhexanide (PHMB) and betaine wound irrigation solution and gels (Prontosan, B.Braun Medical Ltd., UK) across the UK in hard-to-heal (also described as chronic) wound...
Introduction:
Intermittent claudication (IC) is the most common symptom of peripheral arterial disease. Previous research has suggested that cycloidal vibration therapy (CVT) may induce angiogenesis and improvements in circulation. The objective of this feasibility study was to explore trial design and acceptability of the protocol to provide data...
Regardless of the amount of literature and evidence on leg ulcer management, there are still significant variations in treatment. Implementing a standardised leg ulcer pathway to ensure patients are appropriately and timely assessed could help reduce nursing time and overall costs, while improving healing outcomes and patients' quality of life. Suc...
The immense burden imposed by chronic wounds—those persisting over 6 weeks despite active intervention—on patients and health services is well recognised. There are various reasons for why a wound fails to progress towards closure, and clinicians must investigate the underlying cause of wound chronicity, as this information guides the management of...
Implementation of evidence-based care is central to achieving good results. In the UK, this involves implementing guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Here, Tracy Cowan, JWC consultant editor, reports on a conference that outlined recently published NICE guidance on UrgoStart for treating leg ulcers and diabet...
Despite the understanding that wounds are a common problem affecting the individual, the health service and society as a whole, there continues to be a lack of a systematic, structured, evidence-based approach to wound management. The TIME principle was first published in 2003, 1 and has since been integrated by many into clinical practice and rese...
Atkin L (2017) Cellulitis of the lower limb: diagnosis and management. Nurse Prescribing 15(12).
Objective:
Managing chronic wounds is associated with a burden to patients, caregivers, health services and society and there is a lack of clarity regarding the role of dressings in improving outcomes. This study aimed to provide understanding on a range of topics, including: the definition of chronicity in wounds, the burden of illness, clinical...
Objective:
Venous leg ulcers (VLUs) cause significant pain and suffering for patients. Additionally, they place considerable financial and service burden on the National Health Service (NHS). A large proportion of VLUs do not heal within the standard time frame of 16-24 weeks, resulting in static wounds which commonly have issues with increasing e...
OBJECTIVE:
Managing chronic wounds is associated with a burden to patients, caregivers, health services and society and there is a lack of clarity regarding the role of dressings in improving outcomes. This study aimed to provide understanding on a range of topics, including: the definition of chronicity in wounds, the burden of illness, clinical...
The impact of diabetic foot disease on people with diabetes is profound and is associated with disability, amputation and premature death (National Diabetes Foot Care Audit Report, 2016). Diabetic foot ulceration (DFU) is common in people with diabetes, with around 10% of this group having a foot ulceration at some point in their lifetime (National...
Background:
At present there is no established national minimum data set (MDS) for generic wound assessment in England, which has led to a lack of standardisation and variable assessment criteria being used across the country. This hampers the quality and monitoring of wound healing progress and treatment.
Aim:
To establish a generic wound asses...
Leg ulceration continues to be a common cause of suffering for patients and the treatment of these patients continues to place a significant burden on the NHS, especially community nursing services. In 2016, Atkin and Tickle (2016) detailed that the implementation of a pathway for the treatment of leg ulceration which AIDS diagnosis and uses compre...
Wounds that fail to heal quickly are often encountered by community nursing staff. An important step in assisting these chronic or stalled wounds progress through healing is debridement to remove devitalised tissue, including slough and eschar, that can prevent the wound from healing. A unique wound treatment called HydroTherapy aims to provide an...
Chronic wounds affect millions of people worldwide. In the UK alone, the cost of their treatment is estimated to be between £4.5bn and £5.1bn. The implementation of wound-bed preparation strategies remove the barriers to healing and wound debridement is a key component in preparing the wound bed for wound progression. This article aims to review on...
Zinc is the second most abundant trace metal in the human body and is present in all living cells and body secretions. Topical zinc has been used for over 3,000 years in the treatment of skin conditions and wounds (Lansdown et al, 2007). It is reported as having a number of beneficial effects on wound healing, including antiseptic, astringent, anti...
This article provides an explanation and visual demonstration of the differences between the pathology and presentation of hydration versus maceration in wounds. This is described in order that the clinician can distinguish between the two and optimise wound treatment.
The term aneurysm describes a localised widening or ballooning of a section of an artery—an increase of greater than 50% of the normal size is defined as aneurysmal (UpChurch Jr and Criado, 2009). Aneurysmal changes can be found in any artery but are most commonly seen in the aorta (Nienaber and Fattori, 2012). Aneurysms can be asymptomatic or symp...
Leg ulceration is a common cause of suffering for patients, additionally it places a significant burden on the NHS. As the NHS continues to face times of austerity, services need to find other ways of working to reduce cost and release nursing time whilst maintaining standards of care. The implementation of a pathway for the treatment of leg ulcera...
Cellulitis is an inflammatory condition of the skin caused by bacterial infection and affects the dermis and subcutaneous tissues (Lee and Levell, 2016). It frequently occurs on the lower limb, and admission to hospital is common. Acute lower limb cellulitis is a potentially serious condition (Halpern et al, 2008); it typically presents with rubor...
Background:
An investigation was undertaken to compare the effect of multi-component compression bandages and compression hosiery kits on individuals' range of ankle motion whilst wearing typical and medical footwear, and barefoot.
Methods:
A convenience sample of 30 healthy individuals recruited from the staff and student population at the Univ...
The Dopplex Ability® is a new automated ankle-brachial pressure index (ABPI) calculator, the increased use of which the authors are witnessing in clinical practice. Proposed benefits over the traditional hand-held Doppler machine and manual blood pressure (BP) sphygmomanometer include: ease of use, reduced procedure time and reduced time lying flat...
Awareness, monitoring and management explained by Leanne Atkin, Michael van Orsouw and Emma Bond
Debridement is a key element of wound management. Leanne Atkin gives a nurse's overview
This underdiagnosed condition is explained by Leanne Atkin, Michael van Orsouw and Emma Bond
Chronic oedema is a condition that can become more complex to manage if allowed to progress. With the risk of chronic oedema increasing with age, complex presentations may become more commonplace as projections indicate an ageing population. A full holistic assessment is vital, taking into account venous, lymphatic and arterial elements of a vascul...
Aim: To explore the role and identify key responsibilities of the Tissue Viability Nurse (TVN) in the UK. Methods: Mixed methodology using questionnaires distributed via SurveyMonkey and semi-structured interviews. Results: 261 respondents completed the online questionnaire and seven participated in semi-structured interviews. Of the 261 respondent...
Posnett and Franks (2008) have calculated that 200,000 people in the UK have a chronic wound, with an estimated treatment cost of between £2.3 billion and £3.1 billion per year. With an ever-increasing ageing population, it can be assumed that costs associated with the management and treatment of wounds will also continue to rise. The Business Serv...
This article explores the role of the tissue viability nurse in the UK and discusses the diversity of the role and key attributes and skills required to run a successful service. The article highlights that services differ between organisations and that there is a lack of clarity of the core functions of the role published in the literature. This i...
The incidence and prevalence of lymphoedema and chronic oedema is increasing as a result of the ageing population and increased obesity rates. It is becoming increasingly common for long-term conditions to be managed in the community, and community nurses are highly likely to be involved in identifying and providing care for patients affected by lo...
Autolytic debridement describes the body's natural method of wound-bed cleansing, helping it to prepare the wound bed for healing. In acute wounds, autolytic debridement occurs automatically and often does not require intervention, as during the inflammatory stage of a wound, neutrophils and macrophages digest and removes devitalised tissue, cell d...
Recently, there has been increasing emphasis on improving the physical health care of people with a diagnosed mental illness. Appropriate wound care for mental health service users is one such area of care that needs consideration. As the largest professional workforce in mental health settings, nurses can undertake appropriate wound care intervent...
This article reports on research to explore if pre-registration nursing students felt prepared to manage patients' skin integrity effectively on registration. Final year nursing students completing adult, child and mental health fields were invited to complete questionnaires to investigate the amount of teaching sessions delivered in university in...
Superabsorbent dressings are promoted for use on moderate to highly exudating wounds to absorb and retain fluid, thus reducing the risk of leakage and minimising the risk of maceration. The fluid handling capacity of these dressings varies depending on the design and construction, not all should, therefore be regarded as equivalent. This article pr...
Approximately 6000 people with diabetes undergo leg, foot, or toe amputations each year in England, many of which are avoidable. The risk of lower extremity amputation for people with diabetes is ≥20 times that of people without diabetes. Major amputation rates in people with diabetes vary ten-fold across primary care trusts (Diabetes UK, 2012). Th...
Background: To critically review, appraise and evaluate the available literature with regard to the impact that negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) has on the quality of life reported by patients. Methods: A systematic review was undertaken using Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE and CINAHL databases. Publications between 1950 and 2011 were incl...
The use of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) has been widely documented as a technique to help heal complex wounds. This article presents the findings of a preliminary study which aimed to explore quality of life experienced by patients undergoing NPWT as part of their wound care treatment in comparison to that of patients with a wound using t...
Knowledge of the correct levels of tissue fluid is vital to ensure a smooth healing process. Leanne Cook and Clare Barker offer advice on selecting appropriate dressings for residents
The incidence and prevalence of lymphoedema and chronic oedema is increasing as a result of the aging population and increased obesity rates. Oedema is frequently recognised but not promptly treated (Hedger, 2006). Practitioners must remember that oedema is a symptom and the cause needs to be established to ensure that appropriate treatment can be...
It is important to undertake a holistic assessment of the patient who presents with a wound. Karen Ousey and Leanne Cook give an overview of the key responsibilities.
Management and treatment of wounds is costly to health care. As such, accurate wound assessment is an essential skill required to enhance the wound healing process. Wound assessment tools are available to assist practitioners to ensure that wounds are correctly assessed, healing is documented, and factors that could delay healing are identified and...
It is important to undertake a holistic assessment of the patient who presents with a wound. Karen Ousey and Leanne Cook give an overview of the key responsibilities of the practice nurse
Wound infection delays healing and impairs quality of life. Leanne Cook and Karen Ousey discuss the recognition and treatment of wound infections, which are essential skills for practice nurses
Wound infection delays healing and impairs quality of life. Leanne Cook and Karen Ousey discuss the recognition and treatment of wound infections, which are essential skills for practice nurses
Nursing in the prison service is an emerging area of practice and the benefits nurses provide to patients/prisoners' mental health and physical well-being is widely recognised. This article highlights some of the common wounds seen in prisons and discusses the unique challenges of addressing tissue viability in this specific environment, where pati...
Venous leg ulcers can be highly exuding and moisture management is often challenging. The emergence of super-absorbent dressings have been marketed as a tool to manage high levels of exudate, in combination with compression therapy, for the management of venous leg ulcers. Compression bandages are designed to give precise amounts of compression whi...
Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) have been identified as being measures of a patient's health status or health-related quality of life, allowing for health status information to be collected from patients before and after an intervention through completion of a questionnaire. The information collected will provide an indication of the outc...
Individuals with a history of intravenous (IV) drug abuse can develop a degree of venous insufficiency either through the damage of veins from the injection, or the formation of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a complication of IV drug abuse. Long-term venous insufficiency can result in painful lower limb ulceration that can negatively effect quality o...
Right from the start of my nursing career, even as a student nurse, I was mystified by the question ‘what dressing should I put on that wound?’ and even more mystified by my qualified colleagues’ decision-making processes and the inconsistency that often came with this. This fuelled the desire to be able to answer the question for myself. Once qual...