Understanding the meaning of woundsLittle research has been done to address patients' understanding of wounds and bow that might interfere with treatment and healing. This article tackles the issue by examining the meaning of wounds to patients ( 1 ). The origin of the wound and the patients' environment can make a difference to how patients view treatment and healing. The author identifies how this knowledge can be incorporated into nurses' assessment of wounds.
Words such as community, wound and care can hold very different meanings for people involved in the NHS. In the hospital setting, the environment of the patient is made as similar as possible in terms of space, lockers and bed so their own context is suspended temporarily and compliance in recommended treatment is very high. At home, however, the difficulties facing community nurses in terms of defining the problem, controlling the environment and compliance are well known ( 2 ).
Centre for the Study of Primary Care, London.
Jenny
J
Littlewood