The cost of reducing pain associated with chronic wound management

The significant financial costs associated with care of chronic wounds are commonly cited, but health economic analyses are often undermined by incomplete data and poor evidence of the effectiveness of interventions. This article highlights additional elements of cost associated with wounds that are rarely if ever measured: the human costs. In discussing recent studies into this area, it concludes that patient priorities may differ from those of health professionals and budget holders, but must be considered an essential component of future cost studies.