Medical Faculty, Department of Family Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Poljanski nasip 58, Ljubljana 1000, Slovenia.
Study of Nursing, Bjelovar University of Applied Sciences, Trg. E.Kvaternika 4, Bjelovar 43000, Croatia.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019 Feb 15;16(4):559. doi: 10.3390/ijerph16040559.
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.
Patients with VLUs ( = 32) were selected by criterion sampling for a multicentric qualitative study using semi-structured interviews. The interviews were analyzed via inductive qualitative content analysis.
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.
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.
静脉溃疡（VLUs）是最常见的腿部溃疡类型，其愈合时间长，复发率高；报销规则和护理人员普遍短缺使得自我治疗成为焦点。本研究旨在探讨患者为何以及如何自行治疗静脉溃疡。
采用半结构式访谈，通过标准抽样法选择 32 名静脉溃疡患者进行多中心定性研究。使用归纳定性内容分析法对访谈进行分析。
超过三分之二的参与者有时会自行治疗 VLU，四分之一的参与者会改变规定的治疗方法。通过四个主题表达了他们的经验：（a）当前局部 VLU 治疗；（b）VLU 自我治疗；（c）患者教育；和（d）心理社会问题。自行治疗的主要原因是医疗资源有限、报销限制、对常规治疗不满意以及对伤口愈合过程和可能的副作用了解不足。没有为患者或护理人员提供教育材料。许多患者采用了自制的治疗方法。
静脉溃疡患者进行自我护理是由于医疗保健资源有限、对病情原因的认识不足以及治疗对静脉溃疡愈合的影响。未来需要进行教育干预以增强自我治疗。
