Compression therapy for NHS inpatients with leg ulcers: a literature review.

Objective: Leg ulcers are common, distressing and painful for patients, and are a significant financial burden to healthcare providers. Compression therapy is the mainstay of treatment for venous leg ulceration. Several studies have evaluated leg ulcer management and compression therapy in the community.

A point prevalence audit of inpatients with leg ulcers eligible for compression therapy in a large university NHS hospital.

Objective: Compression therapy is the mainstay of treatment for venous leg ulceration. Several studies have evaluated leg ulcer management and compression in the community. However, little is known about the leg ulcer population and use of compression therapy in the hospital setting, where it is not often part of inpatient care.

Leg ulcer service provision in NHS hospitals.

Aim: To explore the service provision for compression therapy for inpatients with leg ulcers in UK hospitals.

Methods: An online survey was carried out to explore the service provision in hospital settings. It was distributed to Wounds UK National Conference delegates and to wound care specialist groups using social media.

Treating patients with venous leg ulcers in the acute setting: part 1.

Leg ulcers present with a variety of aetiologies, sometimes in combination. The most common aetiology is venous, with treament involving compression, elevation and exercise; the most common treatment setting is the community. However, people with leg ulcers do sometimes require admission to hospital for conditions and situations which may, or may not, be ulcer-related.

Identifying different learning styles to enhance the learning experience.

Identifying your preferred learning style can be a useful way to optimise learning opportunities, and can help learners to recognise their strengths and areas for development in the way that learning takes place. It can also help teachers (educators) to recognise where additional activities are required to ensure the learning experience is robust and effective. There are several models available that may be used to identify learning styles.

Optimising concordance with compression hosiery in the community setting.

Compression hosiery is used to help prevent leg ulcer recurrence by controlling venous backflow and the build-up of lower-limb oedema. The therapy is effective, but only if it is worn consistently by patients. In order to promote concordance with ongoing management, it is important that practitioners are aware of the options available in terms of design, structure, colour and size of compression.

Education saves lives.

I was asked recently to run a one-day leg ulcer course. The expectation was that participants could do patient assessment and Doppler in the morning, bandaging in the afternoon and a competency test at the end (and could we finish by 3.30, please).

FAQs on leg ulcer care.

In a webchat on leg ulcer management issues, hosted by Nursing Times, participants raised three key areas of care: the role of healthcare assistants in compression bandaging; reporting and investigating damage caused by compression therapy; and recommendations for dressings to be used under compression. This article discusses each of these in turn.

Compression hosiery to reduce leg ulcer recurrence.

This article provides an overview of the extent of venous leg ulcer recurrence and the role of compression hosiery in venous leg ulcer prevention. It also identifies the problems patients have using compression hosiery and explores practical solutions.

Multidimensional leg ulcer assessment.

Assessing patients presenting with a leg ulcer is like doing a multidimensional jigsaw puzzle, in which all the pieces need to fit together to make a whole picture that has depth and meaning. This enables rational clinical decisions to be made with patients, according to their capability and agreement to be involved. This article highlights some of the key features of leg ulcer assessment, drawing on recommendations in national guidelines.

Key principles involved in applying and removing wound dressings.

This article aims to help practitioners consider a variety of wound dressings and develop their knowledge about the use of dressings to ensure patients are protected and care is cost-effective. The article focuses on which dressing should be used depending on wound type and how different dressings should be applied and removed. Author

Avoiding plagiarism in academic writing.

Plagiarism means taking the work of another and presenting it as one's own, resulting in potential upset for the original author and disrepute for the professions involved. This article aims to explore the issue of plagiarism and some mechanisms for detection and avoidance.

Compression bandaging in patients with venous insufficiency.

This article explains the effects of compression therapy and discusses the treatment options available in the management of patients with venous disease of the lower limb.

Mixed aetiology: complexity and comorbidity in leg ulceration.

Leg ulceration is a condition involving many factors that make assessment and management complex. When comorbidities add to this complexity it is particularly important that clinical management is by highly skilled practitioners in order to facilitate the best possible chance of ulcer healing and to reduce the risk of further complication. This article highlights key comorbidities and the range of reduced compression therapies currently used in clinical practice.