SPECIAL ARTICLES   

Acta Vulnologica 2016 June;14(2):103-9

Copyright © 2016 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English, Italian

Suggestion for assessment and treatment of chronic wounds in low-threshold facilities

Johnny ACQUARO

Addiction Department 1, ASL TO2, Turin, Italy

This article discusses the assessment and treatment problems of chronic ulcers of vulnerable persons such as homeless and addicted people. These people have difficult to turn to hospital facilities. For this reason, low-threshold facilities are a privileged monitoring unit which has become essential for the health networking. The aim of this paper is to examine some of the main aspects to be taken in consideration, to review the assessment and treatment of wounds according to wound bed preparation criteria, and to tackle the issues of compliance and educational strategies. These activities are extremely complex, not only because of the condition of the wounds (which are often improperly treated), but also because of the difficulties in building relations. Empowerment and health education are crucial not only to increase the possibilities of wound recovery, but also to improve quality of life. The holistic approach of caring is suggested as the best approach to evaluate and treat chronic wounds in this kind of facilities. From this point of view, wound recovery is determined by the biological, psychological and social dimension.