Living With Chronic Venous Leg Ulcers: A Descriptive Study of Knowledge and Functional Health Status

Abstract

Adescriptive design was used to identify the functional health status and knowledge level of individuals living at home with chronic venous leg ulcers (N = 21). Limitations in physical function and vitality were moderate to severe, impacting on study participants' productive activities and activities of daily living. Severe to moderate pain was experienced by 19% of the participants. In addition, knowledge deficits were apparent regarding the cause and treatment of leg ulcers. Findings of this study suggest the importance of assessing these factors in addition to the wound when caring for individuals in the community with chronic venous leg ulcers.