BACKGROUND: Venous ulcers are a major public health problem worldwide and are responsible for considerable economic impact because of their high incidence. In addition to restricting daily living and leisure activities, they may result in changes in quality of life and self-esteem, and even lead to depression. The aim of this study is to evaluate the quality of life in patients with venous ulcers who are being treated with Unna's boot compression therapy. METHODS: Fifty patients with venous ulcers treated at the Conjunto Hospitalar de Sorocaba were enrolled. Data were collected using the Short Form-36 (SF-36) health survey upon inclusion in the study and after 4, 8, and 12 months of compression therapy. RESULTS: Initial mean SF-36 scores were low (15.10), indicating decreased quality of life. After 12 months of Unna's boot compression therapy, the mean SF-36 score was 95.38, indicating improved quality of life (P = 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with venous ulcers at the beginning of data collection had lower quality of life but improved after 8 months of treatment with Unna's boot compression therapy.
Leg ulcer; Varicose ulcer; Quality of life; Pain; Self concept; Nursing care
