The role of the social community networks in the care of chronic wounds

The aim of this article is to suggest a multidisciplinary approach to the clinical practice of treating patients with chronic wounds (CW). It will take into consideration and further investigate the relational and community dimensions of patients and his/her caregivers, as these affect the very quality of life and healing process. Scientific literature and clinical experience underline that taking family, friend, professional and community networks of patients into consideration may represent either a strengthening or weakening factor that improves/undermines the improvement of the patients’ psychological and physical conditions. Based on some of well-known reference, a systemic-relational interpretation has been applied to the Chronic Care Model used on patients with CW; in particular, Carlos Sluzki’s theoretical and operational concept based on the idea of social network was used. Approaching clinical practice by considering the patients’ psychosocial and community aspects and their social network has positive effects on the quality of life and leverages the healing process, also through therapeutic and intervention choices of the caring team that encourage compliance.