Beyond patient empowerment: clinician-patient advocacy partnerships in wound healing

Abstract

Background/Aims Enhanced clinician-patient interactions can offer benefits for patient care through harnessing shared knowledge, which can help to address challenges in healthcare. This study aimed to explore the relationship between wound care clinicians and their patients in order to understand the challenges faced in wound care as well as the innovative strategies that are used to address them. Methods A qualitative ethnography of three specialist outpatient wound healing clinics in the UK generated 120 hours of observations of consultations as well as 51 interviews with clinicians, patients and their relatives. Findings The study found that wounds were considered a low-profile condition in healthcare and a taboo by society. In response, clinicians harnessed their interaction with patients to support wound healing research and education – forming clinician-patient partnerships for wound healing advocacy. Conclusions In addition to encouraging educated participation in self-treatment, advocacy partnerships offered patients a proactive role in increasing the scientific knowledge regarding wound healing.