title: Patient characteristics and environmental factors in leg ulcer healing.
abstract: This study examined the effects of patient characteristics and environmental factors on the healing of leg ulcers in older people living in the community. A descriptive comparative design was used to examine factors such as age, gender, socio-economic status, cognition, smoking, ulcer duration, certain diseases and medication. Only socio-economic status was found to influence healing: patients from lower socio-economic classes were more likely to be non-healers. Recommendations on factors to consider in sampling criteria and research design in experimental studies are also discussed.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007871:Leg Ulcer / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014945:Wound Healing