Quality of Life and Factors Related to Quality of Life Among Venous Leg Ulcer Patients Treated by Compression Bandage

Abstract

Quality Of Life and Factors Related to Quality of Life Among Venous Leg Ulcer Patients Treated by Compression Bandage

Napasiri Chotkaew ^* Wipa Sae-sia ^**

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ABTRACT:

Chronic leg ulcer and foot ulcer is an important public health problem which greatly affects on patient’s quality of life. This descriptive correlational study aimed to examine the quality of life level and factors related to quality of life among venous leg ulcer patients treated by compression bandage. Ninety-five subjects were purposively selected from venous leg ulcer out- patient clinic, Songklanagarind Hospital. Self-care practice to promote wound healing questionnaire and quality of life questionnaire that developed by Zhan’s concept were employed to the subjects. The content validity was examined by three experts. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient reliability of these questionnaires were 0.70 and 0.89. Mean, standard deviation and Pearson's Product Moment correlation were used to analyze data.

The results of study revealed that the overall quality of life of patients with venous leg ulcer treated by compression bandage was at a moderate level (X = 83.02, S.D. = 16.87). Self-care practice to promote wound healing had a positive correlation with quality of life at a moderate level (r = .31, p< .01). This study indicated that quality of life in venous leg ulcer patients treated by compression bandage is depended on self-care ability specific to wound healing. It is recommended that quality of life in venous leg ulcer patients treated by compression bandage will be increased if they have a good practice on wound healing especially on diet and medication taking, exercise and calf muscle strength, sleeping and rest in order to increase the wound healing process and prevent other ulcerations. Nurse is therefore taken an important role in promoting patients' practice.