Comparison Study on Hair Apposition Technique Performed Between Nurses and Doctors in Emergency Department.

A Single-blinded Comparative Study on Hair Apposition Technique Performed Between Nurses and Doctors in Emergency Department.(HAT2 Study)

Status

Completed

Phases

Phase 3

Study type

Interventional

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT00353769

Enrollment

360

Registered

2006-07-19

Start date

2002-11-30

Completion date

2005-02-28

Last updated

2017-02-10

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Scalp Laceration

Keywords

scalp laceration, tissue adhesive, wound care, cost effectiveness

Brief summary

The purpose of this study is to compare the effectiveness, complications and benefits of Hair Apposition Technique(HAT)performed by nurses or doctors.

Detailed description

Hair Apposition Technique (HAT) is a relatively new technique for treating certain scalp lacerations. It has been shown to be equally acceptable as compared to the standard toilet and suture. This procedure has been the technique of choice for suitable scalp lacerations in Department of Emergency Medicine, Singapore General Hospital (DEM, SGH) and Emergency Medicine Department, National University Hospital (EMD, NUH). Currently HAT is being performed by doctors in the respective hospitals. Nurses, on the other hand, are routinely using tissue adhesives for minor wound closure. However, nurses in Kandang Kerbau Women and Children Hospital (KKWCH) have been routinely using HAT for 1 year now. Studies had been also been done by nurses in treating of minor wounds using various tissue adhesives as well as hair knotting technique.The trend of nurses handling minor wounds with tissue adhesives, hair knotting technique as well as HAT suggested the possibility of nurses performing HAT to a degree as competent as a doctor. This study aims to compare the effectiveness, complications and benefits HAT performed between nurses and doctors in the Emergency Department.

Interventions

PROCEDUREHair Apposition Technique

Study design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

SINGLE_GROUP

Primary purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Healthy volunteers

Yes

Inclusion criteria

* All age group * Linear lacerations of scalp * Lacerations less than 10cm in length * Hair at least 3cm in length

Exclusion criteria

* Severely contaminated wounds * Actively bleeding wounds * Patients with unstable vital signs or altered mental state

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Presence of any complications, namely infection, scarring, bleeding, wound breakdown and allergy	—
Satisfactory wound healing	—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
Duration of procedure	—
Pain perception	—

Countries

Singapore

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026