Health‐related quality of life and chronic wound characteristics among patients with chronic wounds treated in primary care: A cross‐sectional study in Singapore

Abstract

Chronic wounds commonly decrease patients' quality of life. Understanding how chronic wounds impact a patient's health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) is important for healthcare service delivery and treatment management. This study explored HRQoL among patients suffering from chronic wounds and investigated associations with patients' socio‐demographics and wound characteristics. Two hundred and thirty‐three patients across six primary care clinics were assessed and responded to a survey that collected information on socio‐demographic, wound characteristics, and HRQoL using the EQ‐5D‐5L instrument. Data were analysed by descriptive statistics and generalised linear models. The mean age of patients was 61.2 (SD: 14.6) years; 68.2% were males; and 61.8% were of Chinese origin. Arterial ulcers had the greatest negative impact on HRQoL related to mobility, self‐care, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression, and the lowest VAS mean score 62.31 (SD: 28.3; range: 0‐100) indicating the worst health. HRQoL related to mobility was significantly associated with age ( β = 0.008, P < .001), non‐Chinese ethnicity ( β = 0.25, P = .001), mixed ulcers ( β = −0.41, P = .022), atypical hard‐to‐heal wounds ( β = −0.38, P = .021), wounds with low ( β = 0.24, P = .044) to moderate ( β = 0.29, P = .018) exudate level, and a wound duration ≥6 months ( β = 0.19, P = .033). The findings can be used to improve healthcare delivery for patients with chronic wound to optimise their HRQoL.

Description and Utilization of Telewound Monitoring Services in Primary Care Patients with Acute Wounds in Singapore: A Retrospective Study

“…In the present study, participants of Chinese ethnicity made up nearly two-thirds of the study population (62.9%) and less than one-third of the total study population were women (30.2%). The findings align with a recent study conducted in Singapore in a chronic wound population in primary care 21 . The mean wound area in the present study (7.8 ± 21.2 cm 2 ) was comparable to the findings of a recent study conducted in Singapore on patients with diabetic foot ulcer (7.0 ± 12.5 cm 2 ) 22 .…”

“…The findings align with a recent study conducted in Singapore in a chronic wound population in primary care. 21 The mean wound area in the present study (7.8 ± 21.2 cm 2 ) was comparable to the findings of a recent study conducted in Singapore on patients with diabetic foot ulcer (7.0 ± 12.5 cm 2 ). 22 However, the mean age of the participants (27.9 ± 12.4 years) in the present study was much younger compared with the reported age of the patients with chronic wounds (61.2 ± 4.6 years) and diabetic foot ulcers (66.3 ± 11.3 years).…”

“… 22 However, the mean age of the participants (27.9 ± 12.4 years) in the present study was much younger compared with the reported age of the patients with chronic wounds (61.2 ± 4.6 years) and diabetic foot ulcers (66.3 ± 11.3 years). 21 , 22 …”

“…22 However, the mean age of the participants (27.9 ± 12.4 years) in the present study was much younger compared with the reported age of the patients with chronic wounds (61.2 ± 4.6 years) and diabetic foot ulcers (66.3 ± 11.3 years). 21,22 The mean age of the patients who participated in the TMS was in their twenties. This concords with a large online survey conducted in Japan during the pandemic that found younger individuals generally have increased use of telemedicine compared with older individuals.…”

Development of a Flexible and Wearable Microelectrode Array Patch Using a Screen-Printed Masking Technique for Accelerated Wound Healing

“…Globally, millions of people are affected by poor wound healing after major accidents, surgical complexities, burns, or associated chronic disease conditions, which, if not treated properly, even leads to patient mortality. Proper healthcare service delivery toward wound healing and its effective treatment management is thus very important, particularly for patients suffering from chronic or hard-to-heal wounds . Worldwide, almost 6.5 million people are affected, with chronic wounds imposing an unappreciated burden on them and the wound care society with wound care products amounting to almost $15 billion annually .…”