Chronic venous disease can cause pain, swelling, functional limitations, and reduced health-related quality of life. Ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy is commonly used to treat venous insufficiency. This randomized controlled trial evaluated whether a structured nursing intervention program, in addition to usual care, improved clinical severity and health-related quality of life in adults undergoing ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy at Vall d'Hebron University Hospital. Participants were randomly assigned to usual care or to the nursing intervention program. The program included nursing assessment and education before the procedure, support during treatment, telephone follow-up on the following day, guidance on compression and self-care, access to telephone support, and scheduled follow-up. Clinical severity was assessed using the Venous Clinical Severity Score (VCSS), and health-related quality of life was evaluated using the Chronic Venous Insufficiency Questionnaire (CIVIQ-20). Satisfaction with care was also assessed in the intervention group.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
79
The structured nursing intervention program was delivered in addition to usual care. It included a nursing consultation before the procedure with clinical assessment and individualized education; support during the sclerotherapy procedure; telephone follow-up on the following day; guidance on compression therapy, self-care, and warning signs; access to telephone support; and scheduled follow-up at three weeks and six months. Ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy was clinically indicated background treatment and was not assigned by the study.
Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron
Barcelona, Spain
Change From Baseline in Venous Clinical Severity Score at 6 Months
Clinical severity was assessed using the Venous Clinical Severity Score (VCSS). The scale consists of 10 clinical domains scored from 0 to 3, producing a total score ranging from 0 to 30. Higher scores indicate greater venous disease severity. A decrease from baseline indicates clinical improvement.
Time frame: Baseline and 6 months after the procedure
Change From Baseline in CIVIQ-20 Score at 6 Months
Health-related quality of life was assessed using the 20-item Chronic Venous Insufficiency Questionnaire (CIVIQ-20), which evaluates pain, physical, psychological, and social dimensions. The global score is transformed to a scale from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better health-related quality of life. A positive change from baseline indicates improvement.
Time frame: Baseline and 6 months after the procedure
Patient Satisfaction With Nursing Care Assessed Using the Baker Questionnaire
Patient satisfaction was assessed using the 13-item Baker Consultation Satisfaction Questionnaire. The questionnaire was administered only to participants in the nursing intervention group because it evaluated satisfaction with the structured nursing intervention program, which was not received by the usual care group. Items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale and evaluate three dimensions: professional care, professional relationship, and consultation time. Items were coded according to the questionnaire scoring method, and mean scores were calculated for each dimension. Higher scores indicate greater satisfaction after accounting for reverse-scored items.
Time frame: At 6 months after the procedure
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.