Many healthcare professionals prefer self-adhesive fabric tapes because of their many benefits compared to other adhesive tapes. Here are some of the merits of self-adhesive fabric tapes;
- They are soft, elastic, and adaptable: They are comfortable and excellently conform to body contours. They can be used conveniently on any part of the body and do not impede body movement when they are fixed.
- They are breathable: Self-adhesive fabric tapes are typically made of porous non-woven polyester, which allows air and water vapor to pass through. This provides a skin environment that supports and enhances wound healing.
- They are non-absorbent: Self-adhesive cloth tapes are typically water resistant, making them an excellent choice for securing wound dressings. Also, they provide a barrier against the strike-through of blood and other fluids by boosting the overall absorbent capacity of wound dressings.
- They are skin-friendly: Self-adhesive fabric tapes contain water-based adhesive, which is easy on the skin, prevents allergic reactions, and provides a secure attachment [1]. In addition, some self-adhesive fabric tapes contain zinc oxide (ZnO), which helps to avert wound infection.
- It is easy to use: These adhesive tapes can be used easily by anyone and do not require special training. Furthermore, It is pretty simple to modify its form and size to suit your needs by cutting it.
- It is cost-effective: Self-adhesive fabric tapes are relatively affordable. Furthermore, Most self-adhesive fabric tapes come with protection paper that can be easily peeled off and is pre-measured at intervals of 10 centimeters to cut down on waste. In addition, they have a perforated split for increased versatility in application.
What are the Medical Uses of Self-Adhesive Fabric Tapes?
Self-adhesive fabric tapes are very versatile tools and have many medical applications. They include;
- Fixing wound care dressings [3]
- To secure catheters [2]
- To fix intravenous cannulae and prevent dislodging [2]
- To secure tubes [2]
- It can be used to fix medical devices.
- It can be used to temporarily cover injuries like cuts or bruises.
How to Use a Self-adhesive Fabric Tape
Although self-adhesive cloth tapes are relatively easy to use, following the manufacturer's recommendations can help make the task easier and reduce wastage. Here are some tips you can follow to use self-adhesive fabric tape.
- Clean the skin you intend to cover with the tape.
- Cut the adhesive tape to the length you desire
- Separate the two parts of the protection paper
- To tear the perforations on the release paper, gently pull the tape from side to side.
- Remove the thin portion of the tape to reveal the adhesive part of the tape.
- Apply the adhesive surface of the tape to the skin
- Take off any remaining pieces of release paper, then gently rub the tape to ensure it is firmly fixed.
Please note that self-adhesive fabric tapes can be used to cover the dressing longitudinally by stripping away the tape's release paper. If you intend to use the self-adhesive tape in this manner, here are some steps you can follow;
- Do not tear the perforations on the release paper.
- Remove the release paper by pulling it back 3-5 centimeters from the top
- Affix the self-adhesive tape to the skin directly above the dressing, then carefully apply the adhesive tape in a longitudinal direction across the dressing.
Precautions
Here are things you should do to prevent the side effects that could be associated with the use of self-adhesive tapes. They include;
- Ensure that you are not allergic to the tapes. Even though self-adhesive cloth tapes are hypoallergenic, some people still experience allergic reactions to some components, including zinc oxide.
- Do not apply self-adhesive tapes under tension to prevent shearing of the skin. This is especially critical when using these tapes over joints.
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Conclusion Although Self-adhesive fabric tapes may not seem like the most sophisticated medical tool, they are pretty important and have many uses in healthcare. |
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References
- Czech, Z., & Kowalczyk, A. (2011). Pressure-Sensitive Adhesives for Medical Applications. In Wide Spectra of Quality Control. InTech. https://d1wqtxts1xzle7.cloudfront.net/34438108/cdn.intechopen.com_pdfs-wm_23742-with-cover-page-v2.pdf?
- Corley, A., Marsh, N., Ullman, A. J., & Rickard, C. M. (2022). Peripheral intravenous catheter securement: An integrative review of contemporary literature around medical adhesive tapes and supplementary securement products. Journal of Clinical Nursing. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.16237
- Matsumura, H., Imai, R., Ahmatjan, N., Ida, Y., Gondo, M., Shibata, D., & Wanatabe, K. (2014). Removal of adhesive wound dressing and its effects on the stratum corneum of the skin: comparison of eight different adhesive wound dressings. International Wound Journal, 11(1), 50–54. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1742-481X.2012.01061.x