TY - JOUR

T1 - Living with a venous leg ulcer

T2 - a descriptive study of patients' experiences

AU - Walshe, C

PY - 1995/12

Y1 - 1995/12

N2 - This study aimed to describe the experience of living with a venous leg ulcer from the patient's perspective, to answer the question 'What is it like to live with a venous leg ulcer?' Investigating the experience of illness is important in understanding how disease processes affect people, how they understand and cope with these processes, and how care may be given most effectively. Little research was identified which examined these areas with reference to people with leg ulceration. A qualitative approach was taken in the following study, using phenomenological methods to describe the experience of venous leg ulceration. Informal unstructured interviews were conducted with 13 informants, guided by their descriptive priorities. Tape recordings were then transcribed and analysed for recurrent themes and their meanings. It was found that certain symptoms of ulceration, principally pain, were the overwhelming feature of the experience. These symptoms caused significant restrictions in people's lives, particularly in their ability to walk and go out. Treatment was not described as being efficacious in ameliorating these symptoms, but nevertheless great confidence and trust was placed in the expertise of nurses. People coped with the experience mainly by a process of normalizing its components. It is concluded that if treatment is to meet the needs of those suffering venous leg ulceration, then symptom control must be the highest priority.

AB - This study aimed to describe the experience of living with a venous leg ulcer from the patient's perspective, to answer the question 'What is it like to live with a venous leg ulcer?' Investigating the experience of illness is important in understanding how disease processes affect people, how they understand and cope with these processes, and how care may be given most effectively. Little research was identified which examined these areas with reference to people with leg ulceration. A qualitative approach was taken in the following study, using phenomenological methods to describe the experience of venous leg ulceration. Informal unstructured interviews were conducted with 13 informants, guided by their descriptive priorities. Tape recordings were then transcribed and analysed for recurrent themes and their meanings. It was found that certain symptoms of ulceration, principally pain, were the overwhelming feature of the experience. These symptoms caused significant restrictions in people's lives, particularly in their ability to walk and go out. Treatment was not described as being efficacious in ameliorating these symptoms, but nevertheless great confidence and trust was placed in the expertise of nurses. People coped with the experience mainly by a process of normalizing its components. It is concluded that if treatment is to meet the needs of those suffering venous leg ulceration, then symptom control must be the highest priority.

KW - Adaptation, Psychological

KW - Aged

KW - Aged, 80 and over

KW - Bandages

KW - Clinical Nursing Research

KW - Female

KW - Humans

KW - Interviews as Topic

KW - Male

KW - Nurse-Patient Relations

KW - Pain

KW - Patient Satisfaction

KW - Pilot Projects

KW - Quality of Life

KW - Random Allocation

KW - Social Isolation

KW - Varicose Ulcer

KW - Wound Healing

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 8675863

VL - 22

SP - 1092

EP - 1100

JO - Journal of Advanced Nursing

JF - Journal of Advanced Nursing

SN - 0309-2402

IS - 6

ER -