title: Review of patients' experiences with fungating wounds and associated quality of life.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the evidence exploring the experiences of patients with fungating wounds and associated quality of life, and to subsequently provide recommendations to how these implications may be addressed in practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a systematic approach, a comprehensive literature search was conducted to investigate the most appropriate and relevant evidence regarding the experiences of patients with fungating wounds.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Studies unveiled the enormity of the unrelenting, unique and devastating consequences that these wounds have on an individual’s life and that every domain of their life is negatively affected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings must galvanise nurses to become aware of the extent of the devastation experienced and aspects of life affected by these wounds. The issues raised have multifaceted and challenging implications for practice; however, all aspects need to be addressed and satisfied in an attempt to improve the quality of life of individuals with fungating wounds.
authors.affiliation: Critical Care Unit, University Hospital of North Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, UK. sarah.gibson@uhns.nhs.uk
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gibson
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Green
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D005122:Exudates and Transudates; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D009812:Odorants; D010257:Paraneoplastic Syndromes / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011788:Quality of Life; D012944:Social Support; D029181:Spirituality; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology*