Background & Objective: Wound dressing forms an integral part of wound care protocol, and it is well established to consume significant healthcare resources in most countries. However, across the globe, there is a paucity of studies on the specific cost of dressing per wound diagnosis.
Method: The study was based on a descriptive cross-sectional research design to determine the differential cost of dressing per wound diagnosis in three teaching hospitals in southwest Nigeria. The study population (n=190) was selected from the three hospitals' surgical, medical, neurological, and radiotherapy wards using convenience sampling. A self-structured questionnaire was used to collect data from the respondents. Data collection was for four weeks. Ethical approvals were received, and ethical principles of voluntariness, confidentiality, and non-maleficence were upheld.
Results: Findings show that tibiofibular fracture, femoral fracture, and avulsion injury are the common traumatic injuries sustained by the respondents. The cost of wound dressing significantly varies across wound diagnoses: On weekly estimation, avulsion injury ($4.92) and tibiofibular fracture ($4.21) dressings were twice the cost of dressing another wound diagnosis. Per acute care episodes, the cost of tibiofibular fracture wound dressing was the highest ($119.18). Patients with avulsion injuries and leg ulcers require more hospital stays.
Conclusion: Avulsion injury, tibiofibular fracture, and femoral fracture are the major drivers of the increasing cost of wound dressing among hospitalized patients. The cost of other dressing consumables besides dressing materials and lotion was considered high for all types of wound diagnosis.