Palliative wound care: a concept analysis

The concept of palliative wound care is in its infancy, with relevant literature emerging in the 1980s. Palliative wound care has evolved over time as new research and practice initiatives continue to explore its usefulness. We applied Rodgers' evolutionary concept analysis to a conceptual exploration of palliative wound care. The findings of this analysis identified reoccurring themes that were grouped into the concept's antecedents, attributes, and consequences. We found that palliative wound care is a holistic integrated approach to care that addresses symptom management and psychosocial well-being, is multidisciplinary, is driven by patient/family goals, and is integrated into wound healing principles and everyday practice. The integration of palliative wound care into the continuum of wound care, not just at the end of life, is the logical conclusion.