Wounds: an overlooked burden (Part 1) – effective wound management starts with proper wound assessment

Abstract

Healthcare professionals in general practice are tasked with treatment and management of wounds on a daily basis. The prognoses of these wounds are directly affected by the ability of the clinician to assess these wounds according to several parameters, including the wound type and the features which determine whether a wound is acute or transforming to a chronic wound. This can be achieved by proper and continuous wound assessment, which should guide wound treatment strategies to ensure optimal wound healing and prevent progression to complicated wounds.