Assessment of wound pain: overview and a new initiative

All wounds have the potential to cause pain, and the nature of the pain varies with the type of wound. Many factors may exacerbate wound pain, including infection, trauma at dressing changes and poor technique when applying compression therapy. Failure to assess wound pain or inadequate pain assessment can cause the patient further anguish and extended suffering. Nurses caring for patients with painful wounds need to identify the source of the pain and exacerbating factors, and determine whether it has nocicoceptive and/or neuropathic elements in order to optimize pain management for the individual patient. This article examines the assessment of wound pain and introduces an initiative that has been developed to improve the assessment process. The 'Heal not Hurt' initiative is an excellent example of the profession and industry working together to implement best practice guidance in patient-centered pain-free wound care in clinical care.