Skin frailty and skin tears affect thousands of people worldwide, particularly older adults and neonates. Both conditions can be extremely limiting for the individual and can lead to persistent pain, stress, and a sense of humiliation, with a significant impact on everyday life.
With this project, the aim is to bring to the fore the real-life experiences of people living with skin frailty and skin tears. The project gives voice both to patients who are directly affected and to the healthcare professionals and caregivers who manage and treat these conditions in daily clinical practice.
The International Skin Tear Advisory Panel (ISTAP) and the European Wound Management Association (EWMA) have partnered to develop an educational project on skin frailty and skin tears, with the objective of presenting authentic experiences through patient narratives and the perspectives of healthcare professionals. By sharing experiences and key learnings across the continuum from acute care to the community setting, the project seeks to contribute to improved patient outcomes. With a strong focus on awareness-raising and support for self-care, the target audience includes healthcare professionals, patients, and the general public.
The working group behind the project consists of representatives from ISTAP and EWMA:
Samantha Holloway (EWMA and ISTAP)
Steven Smet (ISTAP)
Ray Samuriwo (ISTAP)
Cathy Harley (ISTAP)
