Empathy in Wound Care: Mapping Its Role, Impact & Barriers
The June 2025 issue of *Wounds Practice and Research* features a scoping review protocol by Menon et al., aimed at evaluating the role of empathy in wound care practice. This study will systematically map literature on how empathy affects patient engagement, wellbeing, treatment adherence, and healing outcomes, as well as identifying barriers to its use.
Key Highlights:
- Scope & Methodology: Uses Joanna Briggs Institute and PRISMA-ScR guidelines to review studies from multiple databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, Scopus, PsycINFO).
- Main Themes Explored: The review will consider empathy’s influence on clinician–patient rapport, pain management, psychosocial wellbeing, treatment adherence, and clinical outcomes.
- Barriers to Care: Will identify systemic and individual barriers—such as time constraints, limited training, and resource shortages—that hinder empathetic wound care.
- Anticipated Impact: Aiming to guide future education, policy, and practice by highlighting where empathy can be effectively integrated into wound care strategies.
This protocol represents an important step toward recognizing empathy as a measurable factor in wound healing and patient-centered care.
Read the full protocol in Wounds Practice and Research.
Keywords:
empathy,
scoping review,
PRISMA-ScR,
patient-centred care,
wound care