Digital Wound Management in Long-Term Care: Findings from a Pilot Implementation in Austria

Abstract Issue/Problem Chronic wounds are increasingly prevalent due to population ageing. They generate high healthcare costs and reduce the quality of life for those affected. Managing chronic wounds is complex and requires interdisciplinary coordination. Wound documentation is essential for monitoring healing, therapeutic decisions and legal accountability. Yet it often relies on handwritten records and imprecise measurements. Digital tools may support, but their implementation in care facilities remains underexplored. Description of the problem In the EU-funded project ‘DigiCare4CE’ a digital app for wound management was implemented in the Geriatric Health Centres of the City of Graz. We aimed to analyze key implementation steps and stakeholder experiences. From 07/2024 to 11/2024 graduate nurses (n = 20) tested the app. The implementation built on literature search, study visits to best practices and co-creation workshops with nurses and care managers. Evaluation followed a mixed-methods approach: (i) surveys with nurses (n = 17) and managers (n = 8), (ii) a peer view visit with experts (n = 11) and (iii) two focus groups. Results Facilitating factors included co-creation, structured change management, hands-on training, and seamless integration into existing workflows. Barriers comprised low digital literacy among staff and difficulties in integrating the tool with existing systems. Managers saw early strategic value, while nurses were initially hesitant, citing usability concerns. Nurses highlighted standardized documentation, automated wound measurement and report generation for third parties as contributors to improved documentation quality. Lessons The pilot offers practical guidance for introducing wound management tools in long-term care. Co-creation fostered engagement and motivation among nurses. Future public health strategies should prioritize promoting digital competencies in care settings and education to support sustainable innovations. Key messages • Digital tools hold potential to support wound management in long-term care. • Co-creation, training of digital competencies and workflow alignment are critical for successful implementation.