Exploring Factors Affecting Quality of Life for Patients with Chronic Venous Leg Ulcers

Abstract

Aim: This study aims to explore the factors affecting quality of life (QOL) for patients with chronic venous leg ulcers (VLUs). Methods: A descriptive exploratory study was conducted at the surgical outpatients' clinics (general & vascular) of El- Demerdash Hospital, affiliated to Ain Shams University. Sample: A purposive sample of 90 adult patients from both sexes with venous leg ulcers were recruited for the conduction of this study from the above mentioned setting. Tools: (1) Patients' interviewing questionnaire sheet was used to assess the factors affecting quality of life for them: Physical, social, psychological and spiritual. (2) Patients medical record was used to identify past and present history, (3) Wounds assessment sheet. 4) Numerical rating pain scale. Results : Mean age of studied patients was 37.5 ±17.7. Nearly one third of them were illiterate and with no work. Majority of patients' wounds were with offensive odor and irregular edges. There were significant relations between the following items ( Age, education, ulcers duration, income, pain and activities of daily living ) and QOL among studied patients. Conclusion: There were many factors affecting quality of life for patients with chronic venous leg ulcers ( VLUs) including: physical, psychological, social and spiritual. In addition, physical factors represent the highest negative effect on QOL, followed by spiritual factors, then psychological and social factors. In this study, levels of factors with negative effect on QOL were high, followed by moderate, then low. Recommendations : Further studies are needed to focus on other factors affecting on quality of life in patients with venous leg ulcers (VLUs). [Howyda A. Mohamed, Ferial Fouad, and Mohamed E. Seif. Exploring Factors Affecting Quality of Life for Patients with Chronic Venous Leg Ulcers.