Welcome
The International Skin Tear Advisory Panel (ISTAP) was formed to raise international awareness of the prediction, assessment, prevention, and management of skin tears. The ISTAP comprises a panel of multidisciplinary healthcare professionals representing: Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, Middle East, North America and South America.
The ISTAP has published numerous articles pertaining to skin tears including: 2020 Best Practice Recommendations for Holistic Strategies To Promote and Maintain Skin Integrity, Skin Tears: State of the Science: Consensus Statements for the Prevention, Prediction, Assessment, and Treatment of Skin Tears; International Skin Tear Advisory Panel: Putting it all together, a Tool Kit to aid in the Prevention, Assessment and Treatment of Skin Tears; Validation of a New Classification System for Skin Tears; The Art of Dressing Selection: A Consensus Statement on Skin Tears and Best Practice.
Key Points:
Although commonly associated with the older adult population, skin tears can also occur in the critically ill, pediatric, and premature neonatal populations.
A comprehensive risk assessment should include assessment of the individual’s general health (chronic/critical disease, polypharmacy, and cognitive, sensory, visual, auditory, and nutritional status), mobility (history of falls, impaired mobility, dependent activities, mechanical trauma), and skin (extremes of age, fragile skin, previous skin tears).
The ISTAP Skin Tear Classification System should be utilized to ensure a common language for identifying and documenting skin tears.
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ISTAP Supporters of Skin Tear Education
Official Interest Group
In January 2016 ISTAP became an official interest group of the Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence Canada (NSWOCC).
International Official Partners:
In December 2018 ISTAP became an official International Partner of the European Wound Management Association (EWMA).
In 2019 ISTAP became an official partner of the World Union of Wound Healing Society (WUWHS).
In 2019 ISTAP became an official partner of the Journal of Wound Care WUWHS Awards.
In 2021 ISTAP became an official partner of the Institute of Skin Integrity and Infection Prevention at the University of Huddersfield.
In 2021 ISTAP became an official partner of the International Wound Infection Institute
In 2021 ISTAP became an official partner of the Wound Healing Association of South Africa
Why we are needed?
Skin Tears: An Often Painful But Largely Preventable Health Care Issue.
Skin tears affect all ages and continue to be a common problem in all health care settings. They are often painful, acute wounds resulting from trauma to the skin, and are largely preventable.
What are we doing?
A Skin Tear Consensus Panel Was Established To Address Prevention, Assessment, And Treatment Of Skin Tears.
A panel of 13 internationally recognized key opinion leaders convened to address skin tears. The original ISTAP Panel have kindly granted permission to share their publication Skin Tears: State Of The Science: Consensus Statements For The Prevention, Prediction, Assessment, And Treatment Of Skin Tears.
What have we achieved?
The ISTAP now includes 19 global expert members from 11 countries and has participated in the publication of 14 articles. The ISTAP Classification System has been translated into English, Arabic, Chinese, Czech, Danish, Dutch,French, French-Canadian, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, and Swedish. Publications are pending in several other languages.