The purpose of this study is to determine whether individualized wound prevention instructions will lengthen the ulcer-free period in veterans with recently healed venous ulcers.
Venous ulcer disease is the most common form of lower extremity ulcer, and treatment requires months to years of costly intervention. Preventing venous ulcers from recurring is ideal, however, healing time is variable, possibly due to inadequate patient/clinician communication and surveillance. An aftercare summary is a detailed set of self-care instructions designed to help patients understand and influence preventative factors under their control. They have successfully been used in patients with cardiac disease and are currently being tested to help prevent diabetic foot ulcers. We propose the use of an aftercare summary to help prevent ulcer recurrence in veterans with recently healed venous ulcers.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
72
A personalized, targeted set of self-care instructions for venous ulcer prevention, including a graphical depiction of patient adherence to self-care goals.
VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle
Seattle, Washington, United States
Ulcer-free survival period
Time frame: Telephone call every 2 weeks, on-site visit quarterly (depends on study arm)
Change in quality of life
Time frame: Telephone call every 2 weeks, on-site visit at 2.5 and 5 months.
Change in satisfaction with care
Time frame: Telephone call every 2 weeks, on-site visit at 2.5 and 5 months.
Adherence with self-management goals
Time frame: Telephone call every 2 weeks, on-site visit at 2.5 and 5 months.
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