Assessing and managing venous leg ulcers in the community: a review

Abstract

According to the Health Service Executive, 24 000 people are currently affected by leg ulceration in Ireland. The NHS also claims that venous leg ulcers (VLUs) are not uncommon, affecting 1 in 500 people. However, VLU rates rise rapidly with age, and 1 in every 50 individuals over the age of 80 years consequently suffer. The development of leg ulcers can have a negative impact on peoples’ quality of life, and researchers maintain that leg ulcers cause a financial strain worldwide. Nurses employed in the community often practise in isolation, which may hinder their ability to access, understand and implement the most up-to-date research findings into their everyday clinical practice. This article describes the current research relating to assessing and managing VLUs in the community. A literature search was undertaken using the electronic databases CINAHL, Internurse and ProQuest. Sixteen research studies and one literature review were included, where three key themes emerged (education in VLU assessment and management, effective resource management in VLU assessment and management and the impact of VLUs on patients’ quality of life). The majority of VLUs are being managed effectively in the community; however, ongoing training is crucial to continue to improve healing rates and quality of life for individuals presenting with VLUs, and deliver high-quality, evidence-based and cost-effective care.