INFLUENCE OF WOUND HEALING ON THE HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE OF PEOPLE WITH VARICOSE ULCER
Varicose Ulcer; Leg Ulcer; Wound Healing; Quality of Life
Lower extremity wounds (LEW) are a serious global health problem. Of all poorly healed wounds, 60% are due to Varicose Ulcer, the clinically most important consequence of chronic venous insufficiency. This research aimed to evaluate the influence of wound healing on the quality of life of people with difficult-to-heal varicose ulcers treated in a Primary Health Care setting in Brazil. This is a longitudinal prospective study with a quantitative approach, where patients were evaluated on two separate occasions, with an interval of one year. Statistical analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for Social Science for Windows. 103 patients with varicose ulcers were recruited. They were mostly female, with a low level of education or income. Comparison of quality of life (QL) aspects between the first and second evaluations revealed that almost all aspects of QL improved, except for emotional and aesthetic issues. Functional aspects related to physical and social interactions showed better improvements, especially when patients were separated into two groups: people who had complete healing after one year and those who still had an active ulcer. These results highlight what is important to pay attention to: when caring for people with wounds, perhaps the biggest injuries are not only physical, but also emotional and, consequently, metaphysical.