New Wound Care Products: Don't Believe the Hype

Dear Readers,
Have you tried the new “whatumacallit” that debrides wounds, removes all the bacteria, restores the circulation, and heals the wound in 2 weeks just by passing the instrument over the wound? It is the coolest, most fantastic device I have ever seen! You have got to get one of those! And besides, it is FDA approved.
How often in wound care have we heard similar words? The new device, the new product, the new cream or ointment—each is the newest, best, and the “must have” product if we are going to provide “state of the art” wound care for our patients. Obviously, wound care providers must have the newest products and devices or patients will not think they are receiving the best care, right? Of course this is right. Everyone knows that new drugs are better than old ones,¹ and more technology is better than less technology.² All of us love to be the first with new treatments because it can imply to our patients that as a practitioner, we have reached a certain level of status and proficiency to be one of the first entrusted with new technology.²
But is the new device, product, cream or ointment significantly better and noticeably more effective than what we currently have, or is it just new and more expensive? Dr. William Heberden has said, “New medicines, and new methods of cure, always work miracles for a while.”³ How often have we seen devices promising exceptional healing soon collecting dust in closets when they failed to deliver as advertised? This is what we want to avoid. We should adopt the best for our patients but avoid being swayed by the excitement and emotion of the moment. We must also remember that FDA approval does not guarantee efficacy in healing. With these thoughts in mind, how do we find out if a new therapy really works? We must turn to our old friend, the evidence.
Dr. Laura Bolton would say, “Look for the evidence.” Evidence for new technology and therapies is usually found in the literature. The Evidence Corner department of WOUNDS contains reviews of current therapies and their supportive evidence. Articles about the technology or medication offer help and information. At the risk of getting into trouble, I would suggest not relying completely on articles provided by manufacturers or representatives. Try to find additional publications not sponsored by industry. There have been recent examples of some industry-sponsored publications only presenting the favorable side of clinical trials regarding new therapies.⁴ Clinicians need to know all the evidence. Get the opinions of practitioners you respect. I do not know of anyone who would not be willing to share an opinion about a therapy or medication if asked. The AAWC Directory is a useful resource to find contact information for many wound care practitioners. You can contact us at WOUNDS if you are unable to find the information for whom you are looking. Once you find the evidence for the new medication or technology, then you can make an informed decision about adopting it for your patients.
It may turn out that the “whatumacallit” is the exact thing needed to heal a wound. It may truly be the best therapy discovered. Either way, you found the evidence to provide the best therapy for your patient. Once you have experience with the technology or medication, be sure to share your results. You will be adding to the evidence for or against the therapy, and the next person with a question will not have to look so hard for an answer.