[Nursing in stomatherapy: clinical care for the patient with varicose ulcer]

Construção e validação de um folheto educativo para tratamento de úlcera venosa

Objective: To build and validate an educational leaflet for treatment of patients with ulcer of venous etiology. Methods: Methodological study, developed in two stages: construction of the educational leaflet by literature review and content validation of the material by judges specializing in the subject. Results: The instrument obtained a Content Validity Index (CVI) above 0.80; only one item was modified after the judges’ suggestion. Conclusion: The educational leaflet was presented to be understandable and comprehensive for the content.

Construction and validation of an educational leaflet for treatment of venous ulcer

Objective: To build and validate an educational leaflet for treatment of patients with ulcer of venous etiology. Methods: Methodological study, developed in two stages: construction of the educational leaflet by literature review and content validation of the material by judges specializing in the subject. Results: The instrument obtained a Content Validity Index (CVI) above 0.80; only one item was modified after the judges’ suggestion. Conclusion: The educational leaflet was presented to be understandable and comprehensive for the content.

Effectiveness of the strategies of an orientation programme for the lifestyle and wound-healing process in patients with venous ulcer: A randomised controlled trial

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of strategies of a lifestyle orientation programme on patients with venous ulcer in elastic compression therapy. This was a single-blind, 2-arm, randomised clinical controlled trial. The primary outcome included the reduction of the wound surface area. The secondary outcomes included the perception of pain, questionnaire of ulcer status, and quality of life. Seventy-one patients with ulcers of venous aetiology were randomised into 2 arms: control group (CG) and intervention group (IG), with a 12-week follow up. The CG was provided with the routine guidelines of the health services. Meanwhile, the IG was provided with lifestyle guidelines regarding the physiopathology of a venous ulcer, importance of compression therapy, physical exercises and rest in 4 face-to-face and 2 telephone interviews. The IG had significant improvement on the wound healing on 30, 60, and 90 days of follow up when compared with the CG (P = .0197; P = .0472; P = .0116). There were no statistical differences between groups; both had improvement in the quality of life and pain perception. Our results demonstrated that elastic compression therapy along with guidelines on lifestyle is effective adjunctive treatment to promote wound healing in patients with leg ulcers.

Quality of life assessment of patients with and without venous ulcer

OBJECTIVES

to compare the quality of life of patients with chronic venous disease with and without ulcer and to identify the most affected aspects.

METHOD

cross-sectional study with a sample of 204 patients with chronic venous disease. The quality of life was assessed with the help of the SF-36 questionnaire. To compare the scores between the groups, the Mann-Whitney test was used, considering a statistically significant difference when p<0.05.

RESULTS

the quality of life score of patients with ulcer was lower when compared to that of patients without ulcer, in all domains and dimensions of the SF-36, particularly in the domains physical aspect and functional capacity, with very low scores.

CONCLUSION

all aspects of quality of life were more compromised in people with ulcers. These findings can contribute towards a better understanding of the effects of chronic venous disease on the quality of life and towards a better orientation of therapeutic interventions in this population.

[Characterization of nursing professionals who care for people with vascular ulcers in outpatient facilities]

The purpose of the study was to describe the demographic and professional competence characteristics of the nursing workers who treat people with vascular ulcers in the dressing rooms of the municipal healthcare network. This cross-sectional, descriptive and quantitative study was performed in a large city in Midwestern Brazil, from September of 2010 to February of 2011. Data collection was performed using a questionnaire, and the data were subjected to descriptive analysis and qui square test (p<0,05). The participants were 218 workers, 58.3% of which had never been involved in update activities related to wound evaluation and treatment, 40.7% reported having little experience in this field, 61% were nursing technicians and nurses' aides. Approximately 10% of the nurses worked exclusively in the dressing rooms, and the others helped in when called. The collected data indicate weaknesses in the nursing care delivered to people with vascular ulcers.

[Venous ulcers: clinical characterization and treatment in users treated in outpatient facilities]

Venous ulcer represents a challenge for health's professionals, because it's a chronic injury, recurrent and with biologic and psychosocial impact. The aim of this study was to characterize the venous ulcers of outpatients attended in curative rooms of the municipal health network and describe the treatment received. This descriptive study, carried out from October 2009 to July 2010 included 58 people. Data were collected using protocol that involved an interview, physical examination, application of scale, photographic record of the lesion and planigraphy. The results showed lesions with poor healing and treatment in violation of the main recommendations of the literature in the area. We conclude that it is necessary to rethink the organization of services to better serve this population.

Avaliação da dor durante a troca de curativo de úlceras de perna

O estudo visou avaliar a dor em úlceras de perna, durante a troca de curativo e identificar os procedimentos mais dolorosos na opinião de usuários do SUS. Estudo transversal, conduzido com 76 usuários com úlceras de perna, sendo 69,8% homens, com média de idade de 57,8 anos (dp=13,2), atendidos em Unidades Básicas de Saúde e Ambulatório do Hospital das Clínicas de Goiânia, Goiás. Para avaliação da dor utilizou-se a Escala Numérica (0-10) e o Questionário de Dor de McGill. A ocorrência de dor durante o curativo foi de 76,3%, de intensidade moderada (Med=5, Q1=3, Q3=8, Min=1; Máx=10). Qualitativamente, a dor foi descrita como cansativa (63,2%) e latejante (55,3%). Os procedimentos mais dolorosos na opinião dos usuários incluíram a limpeza da ferida e a retirada do curativo anterior. A dor durante a troca de curativo de úlceras de perna foi frequente e exacerbada no momento da limpeza e retirada do curativo anterior.