Chronic venous leg ulcers: effect of a community nursing intervention on pain and healing
Mary Courtney Professor and director of research
Kathleen Finlayson Senior research assistant, School of Nursing, Queensland University of Technology, Australia
Ellie Lindsay Independent specialist practitioner, Suffolk, UK
Caroline Lewis Director of client services, St Luke’s Nursing Service, Greenslopes, Australia
Patricia Shuter Senior research assistant, School of Nursing, Queensland University of Technology, Australia
Allan Chang Professor and director, Mater Research Support Centre, Mater Health Services, South Brisbane, Australia
Aim To investigate the effectiveness of a new community nursing model of care for clients with chronic leg ulcers in terms of levels of pain and ulcer healing.
Method A randomised controlled trial comparing the new model of care with standard community nursing care was conducted with a sample of 56 clients with chronic venous leg ulcers, 28 clients in the intervention group and 28 in the control group. Data were collected on admission to the study and at 12 weeks from admission.
Results Significant improvements in levels of pain and ulcer healing were found in the intervention group receiving the new model of care.
Conclusion Results from this study have implications for health professionals providing care for clients with chronic leg ulcers.
Nursing Standard.
19, 52, 47-54.
doi: 10.7748/ns2005.09.19.52.47.c3950
Correspondence
h.edwards@qut.edu.au
Peer review
This article has been subject to double blind peer review
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