“Wounds Home Alone”—Why and How Venous Leg Ulcer Patients Self-Treat Their Ulcer: A Qualitative Content Study

Mirna Žulec, Danica Rotar-Pavlič, Zrinka Puharić and Ana Žulec
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Mirna Žulec: Medical Faculty, Department of Family Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Poljanski nasip 58, Ljubljana 1000, Slovenia
Danica Rotar-Pavlič: Medical Faculty, Department of Family Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Poljanski nasip 58, Ljubljana 1000, Slovenia
Zrinka Puharić: Study of Nursing, Bjelovar University of Applied Sciences, Trg. E.Kvaternika 4, Bjelovar 43000, Croatia
Ana Žulec: Polyclinic Marija, Kneza Mislava 2, Zagreb 10000, Croatia

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 4, 1-15

Abstract: Background: Venous leg ulcers (VLUs), the most common type of leg ulcerations, have long healing times and high recurrence rates; reimbursement rules and a general shortage of nursing staff have put self-treatment into focus. The study aimed to investigate why and how patients with VLUs self-treat their ulcers. Methods: Patients with VLUs ( N = 32) were selected by criterion sampling for a multicentric qualitative study using semi-structured interviews. The interviews were analyzed via inductive qualitative content analysis. Results: More than two-thirds of participants sometimes self-treated VLU and one quarter changed their prescribed treatment. Experiences were expressed through four themes as follows: (a) current local VLU therapy; (b) VLU self-treatment; (c) patient education; and (d) psychosocial issues. The main reasons for self-treatment were a lack of healthcare resources, reimbursement restrictions, and dissatisfaction with conventional treatment together with insufficient knowledge about the wound-healing process and possible side effects. No educational materials were provided for patients or caregivers. Many patients adopted homemade remedies. Conclusion: Patients with VLUs practice self-care due to limited healthcare availability, a low awareness of the causes of their condition, and the effects of therapy on VLU healing. Future educational intervention is needed to enhance self-treatment.

Keywords: chronic wound; venous leg ulcer; self-treatments; nurse; home care nurse; informal caregiver (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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