Managing pain and stress in wound care

Virtually all patients that have a wound, be it chronic or acute, suffer pain to some degree. Pain can arise from different wound care treatments, such as inappropriate dressing choice, sharp debridement of devitalised tissue, wound cleansing and dressing change. One body of research and practice-related observation has indicated that pain and stress play fundamental roles in wound care, whether in an acute or primary care setting (Solowiej et al, 2009). Such pain, or the anticipation of pain, can have a detrimental effect on physical functioning and cause psychological distress as well as reduced quality of life. Thus, healthcare professionals should review their practice to ensure that it is effective and aims to reduce pain.