Development and psychometric evaluation of the U.S. English Wound-QoL questionnaire to assess health-related quality of life in people with chronic wounds

Validity, reliability and dimensionality of the Norwegian version of Wound-QoL

The aim of the study was to explore the psychometric properties of the Norwegian version of the Wound-quality of life (QoL)-17. We included 204 patients with hard-to-heal wounds on the lower extremity. Patients filled out the Wound-QoL-17, SF-36 and Patients' Global Impression of Change at three time points over 14 weeks. Clinical and demographical data were collected at baseline. Wound severity was collected at baseline and 14 weeks follow-up (T2). Confirmatory factor analyses showed acceptable fit of the hypothesised three-factor model (i.e., body, psyche and everyday life) of the Wound-QoL as long as we accepted two correlated error terms within the Body factor (χ2 = 203.14, p = 0.000, df = 99, χ2/df = 2.05, Root Mean Square Error of Approximation = 0.072, Standardised Root Mean Square Residual = 0.059, Comparative Fit Index = 0.943 and Tucker-Lewis Index = 0.930). Correlation showed moderate to strong associations between Wound-QoL and SF-36 (-0.400** to -0.777**), and significant associations between Wound-QoL and Patients' Global Impression of Change (0.199*), general wound pain intensity (0.435**), pain intensity at wound change (0.340**) and infection (0.174*). The intraclass correlations, ranging from 0.578** to 0.782**, suggested strong test-retest reliability. Cronbach's alphas for all subscales and the total score between 0.748 and 0.922, indicated good internal consistency. The Norwegian version of Wound-QoL demonstrates good reliability and construct validity and is suitable for evaluating QoL in patients with hard-to-heal wounds. However, some improvements were performed to achieve an acceptable fit.

Outcome Measures of Quality of Life for People With Chronic Wounds: A Scoping Review

PURPOSE

The aim of this scoping review was to identify validated instruments measuring Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) used in research and clinical practice that are deigned to measure the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of people with chronic wounds.

METHOD

Scoping literature review.

SEARCH STRATEGY

A search of the electronic databases MEDLINE, PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Scopus that spanned the years 1990 to April 2024 was conducted. The initial search resulted in 13 094 records. Removal of duplicates, title and abstract searches, and final selection of elements that were read in full yielded 30 records, along with 2 records identified from reference lists of critical articles.

FINDINGS

Twelve validated instruments measuring PROMs assessing HRQoL were identified; 6 were generic and 6 were specific to chronic wounds. The most frequently used generic instruments were the Short Form 36 Health Survey Questionnaire and the EuroQol-five Dimensions-Five levels; they were used in 6 (18.8%) and 3 (9.4%) studies, respectively. The Cardiff Wound Impact Schedule and the Wound-Qol were the most frequently wound-specific instruments; both were applied in 5 (15.6%) studies each. Both condition-specific and generic instruments measure 1 or more conceptual domains that cover the multidimensionality of HRQoL. Generic instruments allow comparison of persons with chronic wounds to populations with other chronic conditions and the general population; however, generic instruments may underestimate changes in QoL in populations with chronic wounds. Condition-specific instruments provide additional information about HRQoL and they are more likely to be responsive to the effects of specific interventions.

IMPLICATIONS

Research related to instruments that measure PROMs for HRQoL for patients with chronic wounds is limited. Additional research such as longitudinal and randomized studies are needed to strengthen the evidence regarding the applicability and dissemination of PROMS to assess HRQoL in this population.

An innovative multicomponent compression system in a single bandage for venous leg ulcer and/or oedema treatment: a real-life study in 343 patients

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate the performance of an innovative multicomponent compression system in a single bandage (UrgoK1, Laboratoires Urgo, France) in the treatment of patients with venous leg ulcers (VLUs) and/or lower limb oedema in everyday practice.

METHOD

A prospective, observational, clinical study with the evaluated compression system was conducted in 39 centres in Germany between March 2022 and July 2023. Main outcomes included a description of the treated patients, changes in wound healing and oedema progression, local tolerance and acceptability of the compression system.

RESULTS

In total, 343 patients were treated with the evaluated compression system for a mean period of 48±30 days; 196 had a VLU and 275 had oedema, mostly of venous origin. By the final visit, 49% of VLUs healed (75% in absence of oedema and 61% in VLUs of ≤1 month's duration). Oedema was completely resolved or greatly improved in 87% of patients, with significant reduction in calf and ankle circumferences. Improvement in pruritus, pain, age-related ankle mobility and skin changes were also reported in patients who experienced them at baseline. The system was judged 'very easy' to apply (median: 108 seconds, three times a week), 'extremely useful' and 'very well accepted' by most patients who reported an improvement in comfort compared with previous systems. Similar results were observed when patients and/or their relatives were involved in the bandage application between the study visits. During the study, three cases of local intolerance related to the system and five early terminations (unrelated to the system) were reported.

CONCLUSION

These results are consistent with the previous clinical evidence available on this new compression system and further support its good efficacy, tolerability, acceptability and usefulness in the treatment of patients with VLUs and/or oedema.

Patient and wound factors associated with WOUND-Q scales measuring health-related quality of life: An international cross-sectional study

The WOUND-Q is a patient-reported outcome measure for individuals with any type of chronic wound. This study aimed to identify patient and wound factors associated with the four WOUND-Q health-related quality of life (HRQL) scales: Life impact, Psychological, Sleep, and Social. Adults with a chronic wound were recruited internationally through clinical settings between August 2018 and May 2020, and through an online platform (i.e. Prolific) in September 2022. Multivariable linear regression analyses were conducted to identify factors significantly associated with the WOUND-Q scales. The assessments obtained were 1273, 1275, 706, and 1256 for the Life Impact, Psychological, Sleep, and Social scales, respectively. The mean age of participants was 55 (SD = 18) years; most (66%) had a single wound, and most (56%) wounds had lasted more than 6 months. The most common causes were trauma, surgery, and diabetic foot ulcer. Wound characteristics associated with worse scores on at least one of the scales were drainage, vacuum treatment, aetiologies (i.e. diabetic foot ulcer, trauma, other, multiple), duration (i.e. 10-11 months), having four or more wounds, smell, and sleep interference, while wound location different from the face or neck was associated with better scores (p < 0.05). Patient factors associated with worse scores included having diabetes or a comorbidity, whereas increasing age or male gender were associated with better scores (p < 0.05). Sleep disturbances had the largest negative influence on HRQL scores. This study identified factors affecting HRQL in individuals with chronic wounds. Understanding these associations can inform better management and treatment strategies to improve HRQL for these patients.

Assessing health-related quality of life using the Wound-QoL-17 and the Wound-QoL-14-Results of the cross-sectional European HAQOL study using item response theory

For assessing health-related quality of life in patients with chronic wounds, the Wound-QoL questionnaire has been developed. Two different versions exist: the Wound-QoL-17 and the Wound-QoL-14. For international and cross-cultural comparisons, it is necessary to demonstrate psychometric properties in an international study. Therefore, the aim of this study was to test both questionnaires in a European sample, using item response theory (IRT). Participants were recruited in eight European countries. Item characteristic curves (ICC), item information curves (IIC) and differential item functioning (DIF) were calculated. In both questionnaires, ICCs for most items were well-ordered and sufficiently distinct. For items, in which adjacent response categories were not sufficiently distinct, response options were merged. IICs showed that items on sleep and on pain, on worries as well as on day-to-day and leisure activities had considerably high informational value. In the Wound-QoL-14, the item on social activities showed DIFs regarding the country and age. The same applied for the Wound-QoL-17, in which also the item on stairs showed DIFs regarding age. Our study showed comparable results across both versions of the Wound-QoL. We established a new scoring method, which could be applied in international research projects. For clinical practice, the original scoring can be maintained.

Validation of the Wound-QoL-17 and the Wound-QoL-14 in a European sample of 305 patients with chronic wounds

The Wound-QoL assesses the impact of chronic wounds on patients' health-related quality of life (HRQoL). A 17-item and a shortened 14-item version are available. The Wound-QoL-17 has been validated for multiple languages. For the Wound-QoL-14, psychometric properties beyond internal consistency were lacking. We aimed to validate both Wound-QoL versions for international samples representing a broad range of European countries, including countries for which validation data had yet been pending. Patients with chronic wounds of any aetiology or location were recruited in Austria, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland and Ukraine. Psychometric properties were determined for both Wound-QoL versions for the overall sample and, if feasible, country-wise. We included 305 patients (age 68.5 years; 52.8% males). Internal consistency was high in both Wound-QoL-17 (Cronbach's α: 0.820-0.933) and Wound-QoL-14 (0.779-0.925). Test-retest reliability was moderate to good (intraclass correlation coefficient: 0.618-0.808). For Wound-QoL-17 and Wound-QoL-14, convergent validity analyses showed highest correlations with global HRQoL rating (r = 0.765; r = 0.751) and DLQI total score (r = 0.684; r = 0.681). Regarding clinical data, correlations were largest with odour (r = -0.371; r = -0.388) and wound size (r = 0.381; r = 0.383). Country-wise results were similar. Both Wound-QoL versions are valid to assess HRQoL of patients with chronic wounds. Due to its psychometric properties and brevity, the Wound-QoL-14 might be preferrable in clinical practice where time is rare. The availability of various language versions allows for the use of this questionnaire in international studies and in clinical practice when foreign language patients are being treated.

The Impact of Underlying Conditions on Quality-of-Life Measurement Among Patients with Chronic Wounds, as Measured by Utility Values: A Review with an Additional Study

Significance: Quality of life (QoL) is important to patients with chronic wounds and is rarely formally evaluated. Understanding what comorbidities most affect the individual versus their wounds could be a key metric. Recent Advances: The last 20 years have seen substantial advances in QoL instruments and conversion of patient data to a single value known as the health utilities index (HUI). We review these advances, along with wound-related QoL, and analyze real-world comorbidities challenging wound care. Critical Issues: To understand the impact of underlying comorbidities in a real-world patient population, we examined a convenience sample of 382 patients seen at a hospital-based outpatient wound center. This quality reporting study falls outside the regulations that govern human subject research. Comorbid conditions were used to calculate HUIs using a variety of literature-reported approaches, while Wound-Quality-of-Life (W-QoL) questionnaire data were collected from patients during their first visit. The mean number of conditions per patient was 8; 229 patients (59.9%) had utility values for comorbidities/conditions, which were worse/lower than their wounds' values. Sixty-three (16.5%) patients had depression and/or anxiety, 64 (16.8%) had morbid obesity, and 204 (53.4%) had gait and mobility disorders, all of which could have affected W-QoL scoring. The mean minimum utility value (0.5) was within 0.05 units of an average of 13 studies reporting health utilities from wound care populations using the EuroQol 5 Dimension instrument. Future Directions: The comorbidity associated with the lowest utility value is what might most influence the QoL of patients with chronic wounds. This finding needs further investigation.

Psychometric properties of Persian version of wound-QOL questionnaire among older adults suffering from chronic wounds

Background

Patients with chronic wounds experience various biopsychosocial problems which severely affects their quality of life (QoL). Thus, a Persian instrument to assess the QoL of these patients is required. This study aimed to determine the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the wound-QOL questionnaire.

Methods

This methodological study was performed on Iranian patients during 2021-2022. The translation was carried out via forward-backward method. Face validity was addressed with 10 patients and content validity with 12 wound specialists. Construct validity was also assessed by performing exploratory factor analysis (EFA) (n = 100) and convergent validation with EQ-5D-3L plus Pain VAS Score and known-groups validity. The reliability was assessed by internal consistency using Cronbach's alpha coefficient and test-retest.

Results

A total of 100 patients with chronic wounds were included in the study. Two factors with cumulative variance of 65.39% were extracted during EFA. The results revealed a significant and high correlation between the total scores of wound-QOL questionnaire, the Persian version of EQ-5D-3L (p = 0.000, r = 0.502), and Pain score (0-10; p = 0.000, r = 0.627). The Cronbach's alpha was 0.743 and stability of the questionnaire (α = 0.872) was confirmed. In confirming the known-groups validity, the results showed that this tool can differentiate the QOL of patients with different wounds.

Conclusion

The Persian version of the wound-QOL questionnaire is a valid and reliable questionnaire which can measure the QoL of patients with chronic wounds. This instrument can be used in clinical evaluation as well as research purposes across the Iranian population.

Patient-Reported Outcome Measures of Quality of Life in People Affected by Diabetic Foot: A Psychometric Systematic Review

OBJECTIVES

This psychometric systematic review aimed to identify the most suitable patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) of quality of life (QoL) in people affected by diabetic foot.

METHODS

We performed a literature search in MEDLINE (PubMed), CINAHL (EBSCOhost), and PsycINFO (EBSCOhost) databases from inception to February 1, 2022. We also searched gray literature databases. Eligible studies were full-text reports developing a QoL condition-specific PROM or assessing one or more of its measurement properties in people affected by diabetic foot. We assessed the methodological quality of included studies independently using the "Consensus-Based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments Risk of Bias" checklist. The measurement properties were evaluated using specific criteria. We graded the quality of the evidence using a "Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation" approach modified by Consensus-Based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments.

RESULTS

Forty-three reports (46 studies) providing information on the measurement properties of 10 different PROMs were included. We did not identify any instruments that could be recommended for use. We identified 2 PROMs that were not recommended for use and 8 that were potentially recommended but would require further investigation. Of these 8 PROMs, 4 had better evidence for content validity.

CONCLUSIONS

Available PROMs to measure QoL in people affected by diabetic foot have limited evidence for their measurement properties. There is no fully suitable PROM. Pending further evidence, 4 PROMs could potentially be recommended for use.

Translation and validation of 17-item Wound-QoL questionnaire in a Chinese population

We aimed to translate the 17-item questionnaire to measure the quality of life of patients with chronic wounds (Wound-QoL-17) and verify its reliability and validity in the Chinese population. The standard Chinese version of the Wound-QoL-17 was determined through translation, back translation, and cultural adaptation. A total of 121 patients with chronic wounds from the wound center of a tertiary hospital in Beijing were recruited. Through a questionnaire and physical examination, we tested the criterion-related validity, known group validity, structural validity, internal consistency coefficient (Cronbach's alpha), and test-retest correlation. A new structure of four factors was extracted by exploratory factor analysis, and the cumulative contribution rate was 72.23%. The total score and that of the four factors, which were significantly correlated with the EuroQol Five Dimensions Questionnaire (EQ-5D) and the Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36) (P < 0.05), also showed statistically significant differences between patients with different pain grades, with or without wound odour, and between different groups of patients reporting wound changes in the past 2 weeks. Cronbach's alpha was between 0.779 and 0.906, while the test-retest reliability was between 0.532 and 0.802. We concluded that the Chinese Wound-QoL-17 has good reliability and validity and is suitable for evaluating the quality of life of patients with chronic wounds.

Clinical evaluation of UrgoStart Plus dressings in real-life conditions: results of a prospective multicentre study on 961 patients

AIMS

This study aimed to evaluate the performances of lipid colloid technology with nano-oligosaccharide factor (TLC-NOSF) dressings with polyabsorbent fibres in an unselected population of patients under real-life conditions.

METHODS

A large, prospective, multicentre, observational study with three polyabsorbent TLC-NOSF dressings (UrgoStart Plus Pad, UrgoStart Plus and UrgoStart Plus Border, Laboratoires Urgo, France) was conducted in Germany between January 2019 and June 2020. Main outcomes included wound healing rate, clinical assessment of wound healing progression, local tolerance and acceptance of dressings, and changes in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of the patients, assessed with the validated Wound-QoL questionnaire.

RESULTS

A total of 961 patients with wounds of various aetiologies (leg ulcers (LU), diabetic foot ulcers (DFU), pressure ulcers (PU) and other types of wounds) were treated with the evaluated dressings in 105 centres for a mean duration of 62 days (standard deviation 37 days). By the last visit, a wound closure or an improvement in wound healing was reported in 92.0% of the treated wounds. The highest wound closure rates were achieved when the dressings were used as first-line treatment: 71.3% in DFUs, 52.9% in LUs, 53.6% in PUs and 61.8% in the other wounds. Improvement of the wound healing process was also associated with an 87.5% relative reduction of sloughy tissue, a decrease of the level of exudate in 68.9% of the wounds, and an improvement in the periwound skin condition in 66.4% of the patients at the final visit. The dressings were 'very well' or 'well' tolerated and 'very well' or 'well' accepted by the large majority of patients. The HRQoL questionnaires were completed both at initial and final visits by 337 patients, representative of the total cohort. Despite the relatively short duration of the wounds, the HRQoL of the patients was already impaired at baseline, with 81.6% of the patients being severely affected in at least one aspect of their HRQoL. By the final visit, significant improvements in each dimension of the patients' HRQoL were reported (p<0.001), along with a reduction of the proportion of patients in need of intervention and in the number of actions needed per patient in relation to their HRQoL.

CONCLUSIONS

These results are consistent with previous clinical evidence on TLC-NOSF dressings. They confirm the good healing properties and safety profile of these dressings, and that a significant improvement in patient HRQoL is achieved in non-selected patients treated in real-life practice. These data support the use of such dressings as a first-line intervention and until wound healing in the management of chronic wounds, in association with appropriate standard of care.

Impact of Complex Wounds on Health-Related Quality of Life: A Descriptive Study

PURPOSE

To describe health-related quality of life (HRQoL) using the Wound-Quality of Life (Wound-QoL) questionnaire for those individuals referred to an academic medical center wound clinic.

DESIGN

Prospective, descriptive study.

SUBJECTS AND SETTING

One hundred eleven participants receiving care in an academic medical center wound clinic in the Southeastern United States. The sample comprised 67 males (60.4%) and 44 females (39.6%) with wounds of 6 major etiologies.

METHODS

From June 2019 through May 2020, a convenience sample of 111 individuals completed the Wound-QoL questionnaire at the initial visit to the wound clinic. The Wound-QoL questionnaire is a valid and reliable tool consisting of 17 questions related to wound-QoL measured on a 5-point Likert scale, ranging from 0 (not at all affected) to 4 (very much affected). The questions are assigned to the 3 subscales: "body," "psyche," and "everyday life." The Wound-QoL individual items, subscales, and the total wound score (TWS) were calculated as mean values of the item scores, ranging from 0 to 4, where higher values correspond to decreased HRQoL. The TWS is defined as the sum of the 17 item responses, with values ranging from 0 to 68. Descriptive and parametric statistics were used to analyze the data from the Wound-QoL questionnaire.

RESULTS

The mean TWS was approximately 3 points higher for Whites (n = 84) than for Blacks (n = 27) (32.42, SD = 17.96 vs 29.51, SD = 19.39), but this difference was not significant (P = .473). An independent-samples t test of TWS versus sex was not significant (P = .446). The TWS by age category was significant (P = .015), showing differences in mean scores based on age category. We found that the youngest (ages 17-39 years) and oldest (ages 70-98 years) participants were less bothered by their wounds in almost all respects than those in the middle age range (ages 40-69 years). The individual item means varied between 0.84 and 2.72, out of a possible range of 0 to 4. The highest means were for items on the emotional subscale with means from 1.93 to 2.72. Analysis of variance was used to examine the TWS and the 3 subscales over the 6 wound types; none were found to be significant (TWS: P = .454, body: P = .722, psyche: P = .452, everyday life: P = .087).

CONCLUSION

Wound-QoL questionnaire scores indicated that the greatest impact of a wound on HRQoL was on the emotional subscale. These 4 items are related to the individual expressing worry, fear, unhappiness, or frustration with wound healing. The Wound-QoL questionnaire may be used to evaluate the impact the wound has on the individual's HRQoL.

A multi-centre, single-blinded randomised controlled clinical trial evaluating the effect of resorbable glass fibre matrix in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are at risk for detrimental complications even with current, standard of care (SOC) treatments. The primary objective of this randomised controlled trial was to compare a unique resorbable glass microfiber matrix (Mirragen; Advanced Wound Matrix [BBGFM]; ETS Wound Care, Rolla, Missouri) compared with a standard of care group (SOC, collagen alginate dressing) at 12 weeks. Both groups received standard diabetic foot care including glucose monitoring, weekly debridements when needed and an offloading device. The primary endpoint was proportion of full‐thickness, non‐infected, non‐ischaemic wounds healed at 12 weeks, with secondary endpoints including percent area reduction (PAR) and changes in Semmes‐Weinstein monofilament testing. The result illustrated in the intent‐to‐treat analysis at 12 weeks showed that 70% (14/20) of the BBGFM‐treated DFUs healed compared with 25% (5/20) treated with SOC alone (adjusted P = .006). Mean PAR at 12 weeks was 79% in the BBGFM group compared with 37% in the SOC group (adjusted P = .027). Mean change in neuropathic score between baseline and up to 12 weeks of treatment was 2.0 in the BBGFM group compared with −0.6 in the SOC group where positive improvement in scores are better (adjusted P = .008). The mean number of BBGFM applications was 6.0. In conclusion, adding BBGFM to SOC significantly improved wound healing with no adverse events related to treatment compared with SOC alone.

Assessing the quality of life of people with chronic wounds by using the cross-culturally valid and revised Wound-QoL questionnaire

The Wound-QoL is an often used reliable and valid measure, originally developed in Germany. It has been sequentially translated and validated for other languages/countries, for the measurement of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with chronic wounds. However, a study from the United States postulated its benefits from further adaptations. Furthermore, some patients struggled to provide an answer for some of the items. We aimed to test the cross-cultural structure and psychometric performance of the questionnaire to suggest necessary revisions. This cross-sectional analysis of existing data sets included 1185 patients from Germany, the US, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and Israel. Patients in the U.S. Wound Registry completed the Wound-QoL during routine care. Different studies comprised the data collection in the other countries. Almost half of the patients were women (48.4%). Furthermore, 42.6% were diagnosed with leg ulcers. Their average age was 66 years. We used a confirmatory factor analysis and an unconstrained graded response model. We revised and shortened the Wound-QoL from 17 to 14 items. In addition, we supported the cross-cultural metric invariance of the revised Wound-QoL questionnaire. The new version with 14 items and three dimensions revealed good psychometric properties with Cronbach's alpha (α) of 0.913 for the total score, and 0.709-0.907 for different dimensions. Furthermore, we provided strict invariance for different clinical variables. In conclusion, the revised Wound-QoL is a reliable and cross-cultural instrument to measure the HRQoL on patients with chronic wounds. Future studies should analyse the revised Wound-QoL for convergent validity with generic HRQoL questionnaires as well as for determining its sensitivity to clinical change.

Association of wound genesis on varying aspects of health-related quality of life in patients with different types of chronic wounds: Results of a cross-sectional multicentre study

Patients with chronic wounds are significantly impaired in their health‐related quality of life (HRQoL). The validated Wound‐QoL questionnaire allows assessing the impact of chronic wounds on different aspects of HRQoL including physical, psychological, and everyday life‐related impairments. The aim of our study was to investigate associations of these HRQoL dimensions with age, sex, and particularly wound genesis. In this retrospective, cross‐sectional, multicentre study, Wound‐QoL questionnaires from clinical routine of patients with venous leg ulcers, arterial leg ulcers, mixed leg ulcers, and diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) were evaluated. Effects of wound genesis, sex, and age were assessed with analysis of variance as well as correlation and multiple linear regression analyses. The completed questionnaires of 381 patients (f = 152/m = 229; mean age 68.9) were included. The wound genesis groups showed significantly different distributions of age and sex. We also found significant differences between those groups in everyday life‐related QoL, with the greatest impairments in patients with DFU. Physical QoL scores showed significant differences between men and women depending on diagnosis group: in patients with venous leg ulcers, women had greater impairment of physical QoL than men. Independent of the underlying diagnosis, women had significantly higher scores in the psychological subscale as well as in the Wound‐QoL sum scale. Within the subgroup of arterial leg ulcer patients, overall HRQoL sum score was significantly worse in older patients. Regression analyses supported negative effects of DFU diagnosis and female sex on HRQoL. Our data offer evidence that HRQoL shows clinically relevant differences between patients with chronic wounds of different genesis. Moreover, our data revealed that HRQoL is associated with age and sex, which should be considered when treating the patient groups. In order to be able to capture these important aspects and to offer individualised and patient‐oriented treatments, the Wound‐QoL should be implemented as a quick and uncomplicated standard instrument in daily routine. Patients with chronic wounds are significantly impaired in their health‐related quality of life. Validated Wound‐QoL questionnaire is a quick and easy‐to‐use instrument for daily practice. Wound‐related quality of life shows clinically relevant differences between patients with chronic wounds of different genesis. Wound‐related quality of life is associated with age and sex, which should be considered when treating these patient groups. Health‐related quality of life should be regularly objectified in all patients with chronic wounds with a validated measuring instrument.