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Informational/Educational Report
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A nursing follow-up program for patients with pure venous ulcers Chantal Labrecque, MSN, Hospital du Sacre-Coeur de Montreal, Quebec, Canada In Canada, 1 to 2% of the population will suffer from venous ulcer. The factors of recurrence are mainly connected with three conditions: 1)the clientele's lack of knowledge on the risk factors and prevention of ulcers as well as the required modifications to their lifestyle, 2) the lack of observance of the precautionary measures of the patients who abandon their treatment when the ulcer is cured and, 3) the lack of regular follow-ups of the clientele. The elaboration of a nursing follow-up program aimed to increase the level of responsability for the care of the patient's health by having a better inderstanding of the patient's condition and the risk factors and to increase observance of treatment and precautionary measures. Global intervention proposed in a nursing program was made up of six meetings strutured at the time of the diagnosis and during the 1st,4th, 8th, 12th and 24th week after the diagnosis. Each meeting included care as well as precise nursing interventions. Once diagnosed, data collection, a descriptive chart of the wound, along with a layout of the wound were carried out. At the second meeting, clientele education was strated and the description of the wound was updated. During the subsequents meetings, the wound's progression and its components were always listed by means of methods already in place. Pursuit and intense education as well as support for the observance of treatment were offered according the needs and the comprehension of the person. In the 24th week, the presence of recurrence was estimated. The four participants were met twelve weeks after the cure and among all the persons having been followed, no recurrence was recorded This project was made possible with the financial and technical support of the Smith & Nephew company and with the collaboration of Dr Alain Brassard, dermatologist. RNAO (Registered Nurses of Ontario Association) ( March 2004, Nursing Best Practice Guideline. Assessment and management of venous leg ulcers. |
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