The management of leg ulcers and patient
concordance with treatment are complex areas
that may affect patient outcomes and quality of
life. If healthcare professionals are to deliver
quality care, they need to understand fully the
patient experience of living with a leg ulcer.
This includes an awareness of physical factors,
including pain, odour and wound exudate, and
infection, and psychosocial factors, such as
social isolation, low self-esteem, negative body
image and depression. Non-concordance with
treatment regimens cannot be addressed fully
without knowledge of the wider psychosocial
and physical factors affecting the patient.
Healthcare professionals need to provide
care that is holistic in nature, while engaging
in reflective professional practice to determine
how their attitudes and behaviour may contribute
to patient concordance. By adopting collaborative
relationships with patients, practitioners can
enable individuals to feel more in control of their
lives, thereby increasing their self-esteem and
improving their coping strategies NS