EWMA Releases Palliative Wound Care Guidelines: Focused on Symptom Management
The European Wound Management Association (EWMA), in collaboration with EPUAP, WHS, and Wounds Australia, has published evidence-based guidelines in the *Journal of Wound Management* (Vol 26, Suppl 1, 2025). These recommendations address the care of non-healing and palliative wounds by focusing on symptom relief rather than healing alone.
Key Highlights:
- Holistic Symptom Management: Emphasis on alleviating pain, odor, exudate, bleeding, and itch to enhance comfort and quality of life in patients with palliative wounds :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}.
- Patient- and Family-Centered Care: Care plans are designed collaboratively, respecting patient preferences and involving caregivers in decision-making :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}.
- Education & Multidisciplinary Approach: Guidelines recommend integrating palliative wound care principles throughout medical education and encouraging teamwork between clinicians, dietitians, psychologists, social workers, and palliative care specialists :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}.
- Research & Innovation Encouraged: Highlights the need for further clinical trials and industry collaboration to develop targeted products and techniques—especially for malignancy-related wounds :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}.
- Policy and Access Implications: Urges the development of institutional and national policies to ensure equitable resource access, use of telehealth, and standardized symptom-targeted protocols :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}.
These guidelines reflect EWMA’s commitment to improving outcomes for patients with palliative wounds through a compassionate, evidence-based, and multidisciplinary approach, tailored to the needs of those at all stages of wound progression.
Read the full guidelines supplement in the EWMA News section and download it for free.
Keywords:
palliative wound care,
symptom management,
quality of life,
multidisciplinary care,
telehealth