Development of an evidence-based protocol for care of pilonidal sinus wounds healing by secondary intent using a modified Reactive Delphi procedure. Part 2: methodology, analysis and results

This is the second part of the article based on the thesis work for a Masters of Science in Wound Healing and Tissue Repair, Cardiff University, to develop an evidence-based protocol for the care of pilonidal sinus wounds (PSWs) healing by secondary intent, using a modified Reactive Delphi process. The sample included surgeons, clinic physicians, nurses and enterostomal therapy nurses experienced in the care of these wounds. Item generation involved an extensive review of the literature to identify key aspects of evidence-based wound care essential to wound healing, infected wounds and pilonidal wounds healing by secondary intent and drawing on clinical experience. The participants responded via an electronic Delphi website, using a 4-point Likert rating scale and a ranking system. Comments were invited. Feedback was provided to the participants at the end of each round, that included comments, consensus scores, content validity index and additional information that provided rationale and references, or minor revision if requested. This project successfully achieved the objectives, which were to identify the areas of care that negatively or positively influences healing of postoperative PSWs and to inform, educate and broaden the considerations regarding these factors for health care professionals.