Issues in chronic wound care: where do we go from here?

Understanding of the healing process and factors that may affect it, has increased dramatically during recent years. Clinical application of this knowledge has improved care for many patients, and helped focus attention on information deficits. To better meet patient needs and increase awareness of the value of prevention, wound care clinicians and researchers are encouraged to include Quality of Life outcomes in their goals of chronic wound care. In the absence of the results of reliability, validity and feasibility studies of existing chronic wound care guidelines, clinicians need to be aware of their potential usefulness and limitations. When reviewing wound care costs or conducting studies, it is important to define cost-effectiveness as a function of outcomes and all relevant costs. Because chronic wounds occur in every care environment, these issues require the attention of all healthcare professionals, educators, payors and patients. Wound care professionals are encouraged to disseminate existing knowledge to all providers and recipients of care.