Effective medical care in wound healing. Version 3
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The ontology of compassion: An exploration of reflexive medical practice
IRAS ID
179207
Contact name
Anna Milena Galazka
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cardiff University
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
This study explores the meaning and perception of effective medical care in wound healing. Recent demographic changes, such as the ageing of the population, a growth in diabetes and a rise of obesity mean that wounding is an important medical problem. Because the road to recovery is often long and complex, wound care may involve more than just looking after skin health. It may also involve relationships which might have a compassionate element, among others (Wound Care Centers 2016). The nature of these relationships and their place in the treatment of patients with wounds need to be understood better because wound healing is a new area of medical practice. This study asks: What are the concerns of wound care professionals and patients in delivering and receiving effective (compassionate) care? How are these concerns translated into wound healing practice? To explore this, this study looks at wound care provided by acute service outpatient wound clinics, including general clinics, and outpatient diabetic foot clinics in Wales. It will use qualitative interviews with patients with wounds who use these wound care services in Wales and with clinicians involved in providing wound care. It will also use observations of their interactions in wound clinics. The study will run from April 2016 to March 2017. Its results will be described in a doctoral dissertation funded by the Economic and Social Research Council. It is hoped the study will help to better understand the social nature of wound healing which might inform existing medical practice and training. It might also raise the profile and awareness of the importance of wound healing.
Wound Care Centers. 2016. Wound specialists: How they Are different [Online]. Available at: http://www.woundcarecenters.org/article/living-with-wounds/wound-specialists-how-they-are-different : 17th January 2016].
REC name
London - Brighton & Sussex Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/LO/0559
Date of REC Opinion
27 Mar 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion