Cross-cultural adaptation of the Leg Ulcer Measurement Tool for Brazil: nursing methodology research

Wound pH and Surface Temperature as a Predictive Biomarker of Healing in Diabetic Foot Ulcers

Aim

To monitor wound pH and surface temperature as predictors of wound healing in diabetic foot ulcers (DFU).

Methods

Prospective, observational, time-bound study of 18 months, enrolling patients aged 18 to 60 years with uninfected DFU. The wound was assessed at baseline and after that, every week for 4 weeks according to the leg ulcer measurement tool (LUMT). Concurrently, wound surface pH and temperature were measured. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and a P-value < .05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

Fifty-four patients with DFU were included in the study with a mean age of 55 years and a male to female ratio of 1.57. The wound showed progressive improvement, a maximum mean LUMT score of 48.89 (± 2.81) at the initial evaluation and decreased progressively to the mean of 19.80 at week 4 (± 3.43), both of which were statistically significant ( P-value < .001). Similarly, the median wound pH progressively reduced from 7.7 at baseline to 7.20 in the fourth week, and median wound temperature decreased from 90°F (32.22 °C) at baseline to 85°F (29.44 °C) in the fourth week, both of which were statistically significant ( P-value < .001).

Conclusion

Progressive and significant change in wound pH to acidic and drop in wound surface temperature, both corresponding to improvement in the status of DFU, maximum at 4 weeks, make them valuable predictors of wound healing. However, further, more extensive studies are required to establish a concrete relationship.

CONSTRUCT VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY OF THE LEG ULCER MEASUREMENT TOOL SCALE ADAPTED FOR BRAZIL

ABSTRACT Objective: to validate the Portuguese version of the Leg Ulcer Measurement Tool regarding construct and reliability. Method: this is a methodological research study. Data collection was conducted between January and July 2019. A total of 105 participants were included for construct validation and internal consistency and, of these, 50 were selected for intra-observer stability. For the analysis of construct validity, factor analysis was performed; for internal consistency, Cronbach's alpha coefficient was calculated, and for stability, the intraclass correlation coefficient. Results: A total of 12items were confirmed for the Brazilian reality, meeting all the theoretical requirements of the factor analysis model. As for the internal consistency (reliability) analysis, the Cronbach's alpha coefficient values (α=0.711) showed that the set of items that make up the scale measures the same characteristics and presents internal consistency. In the global stability analysis (ICC=0.823), the Leg Ulcer Measurement Tool test and retest scores presented good agreement, showing that the adapted scale is stable. Conclusion: the Leg Ulcer Measurement Tool scale adapted to the Portuguese language contains 12 items, with scores varying from 0 to 4 and, thus, produces a score from 0 to 48 points. It presents construct validity analyzed by means of factor analysis and reliability in terms of internal consistency and stability.

Avaliação clínica de pacientes com úlceras de perna acompanhados em ambulatório

RESUMO Objetivo realizar avaliação clínica e sociodemográfica de pacientes com úlceras de perna. Método estudo transversal, quantitativo, com 105 pacientes com úlceras de perna em ambulatórios da rede pública de Niterói/RJ, aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Federal Fluminense. Os dados foram coletados no período de janeiro a agosto de 2019, analisados por estatística descritiva e dispostos em tabelas. Resultados pacientes do sexo masculino (57,1%), de 60 a 80 anos (60%), com ensino fundamental incompleto (45,7%), renda de até 1 salário mínimo (64,8%). A maioria das lesões foi de etiologia venosa (76,2%), de tempo igual ou superior a 40 meses (54,3%), com tamanho maior que 10cm2 (53,3%), apresentando exsudato seroso (91,4%) em pequena quantidade (40%) e predominância de tecido granulado (36,2%). A dor foi um achado frequente, relacionada com a posição do membro (31,4%). Conclusão e implicações para a prática o conhecimento do perfil da população acompanhada e das características clínicas das lesões favorece a otimização do tratamento, permitindo um planejamento específico da assistência de enfermagem.