Chronic leg ulcers disrupt patients' lives: A study of leg ulcer-related life changes and quality of life

Cunha, Nélia; Campos, Sara; Cabete, Joana

doi:10.12968/bjcn.2017.22.sup9.s30

Cited by 20 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…Unlike previous studies of factors associated with ulcer‐related pain, we found no significant association between several biological factors (i.e., wound diagnosis, ulcer size, ulcer duration) and moderate to severe ulcer‐related background pain. Even though there are differences in the pathologies and clinical characteristics of different types of chronic leg ulcers, all chronic leg ulcers are associated with a profound impact on persons’ physical, functional and psychological status (Cunha et al, 2017; Franks & Morgan, 2003; Herber et al, 2007). Pain is a biopsychosocial phenomenon (IASP, 2020), and it is acknowledged that the size and severity of an injury is not always related to the pain experienced (Chapman et al, 2000).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Since the incidence of wounds rise with age, the prevalence is likely to rise as the population ages (Atkin et al, 2019). All types of chronic leg ulcers, irrespective of pathology, are associated with a negative impact on patients’ physical and psychosocial function and health status which may result in a significant decline in quality of life (Cunha et al, 2017; Franks & Morgan, 2003; Herber et al, 2007). In addition, chronic wounds are a major financial burden to the society (Olsson et al, 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Prevalence and factors associated with ulcer‐related pain in persons with chronic leg ulcers—an explorative study

Leren

Johansen

Eide

et al. 2021

Journal of Clinical Nursing

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Aims and Objectives The aims of this study were to explore the prevalence of background pain and identify demographic, clinical and psychosocial factors associated with moderate to severe background pain in persons with leg ulcers. Background All chronic leg ulcers are potentially painful. Research indicates that 80% of persons with chronic leg ulcers experience wound‐related background pain. However, studies on factors associated with pain have small samples and findings are inconclusive. Design Exploratory cross‐sectional study. Method This quantitative study recruited persons with chronic leg ulcers (N = 252) from two wound care clinics using consecutive sampling method. Data were obtained through screening interview, clinical examination and questionnaires. Logistic regression with stepwise backwards elimination was used to identify factors associated with moderate to severe background pain. The STROBE checklist for cross‐sectional studies was used for reporting this study. Results Background pain was reported by 64% of the participants. Inferential statistical analyses suggest that between 58% and 69% of persons with chronic leg ulcers suffer from this type of pain. Factors associated with moderate to severe pain were older age, female gender, reduced sleep quality and diminished health status. In the final model, reduced sleep quality increased the likelihood of having moderate to severe pain in persons with good health status while not in persons with diminished health status. Conclusion Ulcer‐related background pain is common in persons with chronic leg ulcers. Older females reporting insomnia symptoms also had increased risk of moderate to severe ulcer‐related background pain. These participants also perceived their health status to be better. Relevance to clinical practice This study demonstrates that ulcer‐related background pain and associated factors needs more attention in clinical practice. Furthermore, nurses and other healthcare professionals should integrate biopsychosocial strategies to assess and manage ulcer‐related background pain.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence and factors associated with ulcer‐related pain in persons with chronic leg ulcers—an explorative study

Leren

Johansen

Eide

et al. 2021

Journal of Clinical Nursing

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“…These variables are among the worst characteristics associated with the chronic wound, and they can cause embarrassment and lead patients to exclude themselves from society in an attempt to avoid moments of repression, generating feelings of solitude and depression. (20) Wound exudate is an excess of leaky fluid that usually builds up in the injured tissue. Exudation is a serious problem due to the presence of proteases that destroy the tissue and directly contribute to the increase of the wound size.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Qualidade de vida de pessoas com feridas crônicas

et al. 2019

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Resumo Objetivo: Avaliar a qualidade de vida de pessoas com feridas crônicas. Métodos: Estudo transversal realizado com 176 pessoas com feridas crônicas em acompanhamento ambulatorial e domiciliar em um serviço público de saúde. Foram utilizados: formulário para a caracterização sociodemográfica, clínica e terapêutica e o questionário Cardiff Wound Impact Schedule para a mensuração da qualidade de vida. As análises foram descritivas e inferenciais empregando-se os testes t de Student, ANOVA, Mann Whitney e Kruskal-Wallis. Resultados: Dentre as pessoas acompanhadas em domicílio, predominaram lesões de origem vasculogênicas, com tempo de existência superior a 12 meses e área de até 25 cm2. No ambiente ambulatorial, prevaleceram feridas vasculogênicas e traumáticas, com tempo máximo de seis meses e extensão de até 25 cm2. Os fatores clínicos associados à qualidade de vida foram: tempo de duração da lesão, etiologia da lesão, grande extensão, aspecto do exsudato, presença de odor e de dor. O domínio de QV “bem-estar” apresentou maior impacto negativo decorrente da presença de lesão. Conclusão: Os fatores clínicos influenciaram diretamente os domínios de QV, sendo necessária a utilização de estratégias diferenciadas com o intuito de reduzir o impacto na QV por se tratarem de aspectos que poderiam ser atenuados ou evitados mediante a avaliação da lesão e a escolha do tratamento adequado.

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“…In fact, in the present study, more than half of the participants had other painful comorbidities such as musculoskeletal pain, joint pain, and neuropathies. Previous research also shows that the ulcer itself, 63 older age, 64 and comorbidities 65 are associated with impaired function and health outcomes. Recognising that ulcer related pain in addition to other factors can interfere with several aspects of a person's life are reasons to use biopsychosocial approaches in wound management.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Background pain in persons with chronic leg ulcers: An exploratory study of symptom characteristics and management

Leren

Eide

Johansen

et al. 2021

International Wound Journal

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This exploratory descriptive study aimed to describe characteristics and management of background pain related to chronic leg ulcers. A total of 121 participants were recruited from two wound care clinics using a consecutive sampling method. Data were obtained through screening interview, clinical examination, and questionnaires. The mean average background pain intensity was 4.5 (SD 2.56) (CI 95% 4.0-5.0). Pain interfered mostly with general activity (mean 4.3), sleep (mean 4.1), and walking ability (mean 4.0) (0-10 NRS). The most frequently reported descriptors of background pain were 'tender', 'stabbing', 'aching', and 'hot-burning'. Most of the participants stated that the pain was intermittent. Less than 60% had analgesics prescribed specifically for ulcer related pain, and the respondents reported that pain management provided a mean pain relief of 45.9% (SD 33.9, range 0-100). The findings indicate that ulcer related background pain is a significant problem that interferes with daily function, and that pain management in wound care is still inadequate. K E Y W O R D Schronic leg ulcers, holistic wound care, pain, pain characteristics, pain management Key Messages• a thorough pain assessment procedure is the cornerstone of successful pain management in persons with CLUs • this cross-sectional explorative study aimed to describe characteristics and management of ulcer related pain in 121 persons with chronic leg ulcers • ulcer related background pain is a significant problem, and the participants report moderate pain intensity, which interferes with general activity, sleep, and walking ability • pain management seems to be inadequate, with less than 60% of the participants receiving analgesics for their ulcer related background pain

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Chronic leg ulcers disrupt patients' lives: A study of leg ulcer-related life changes and quality of life

Cited by 20 publications

References 8 publications

Prevalence and factors associated with ulcer‐related pain in persons with chronic leg ulcers—an explorative study

Prevalence and factors associated with ulcer‐related pain in persons with chronic leg ulcers—an explorative study

Qualidade de vida de pessoas com feridas crônicas

Background pain in persons with chronic leg ulcers: An exploratory study of symptom characteristics and management

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