Which methods of assessment are currently used in wound assessment tools to assess wound odour? A scoping Review

What is it about?

Background: Wound-related odour has a negative impact on the quality of life of the patient and may be indicative of wound infection or deterioration. Wound assessment should incorporate odour assessment. This scoping review aimed to determine what wound odour assessment methods are incorporated into wound assessment tools. Methods: This review was guided by the Joanna Briggs Institute recommendations for the conduct of scoping reviews and reported according to the PRISMA-ScR checklist. Results: Five methods to assess wound odour used in wound assessment tools were identified: TELER; TSAW-W; WoSSAC; MWAT-C & R; and the National Wound Assessment Form. Each reported on the process of tool development with evidence of validity and reliability testing at the development stage. However, these tools were very poorly represented in research studies that aimed to evaluate the outcomes of interventions to manage odour. Conclusions: Validated methods of wound-related odour assessment do exist but are poorly represented in wound assessment tools or research studies. Numeric rating scales of odour intensity are the most frequently reported but do not take account of the level of interference or ‘bother’ for the patient or their families. We need a call to action for industry and the research community to recognise the significance of this problem and to work together to find solutions that are tested using validated tools.

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