Measuring the incidence of lower limb ulceration in the Chinese population in Hong Kong.
OBJECTIVE
This retrospective study set out to examine the incidence, patient characteristics and current practice among patients with ulcers on the lower leg and foot who were under the care of the community nursing service of a regional hospital in Hong Kong. There is no clear differentiation between leg ulcers and foot ulcers in local practice in Hong Kong.


METHODS
The nursing records of 819 subjects receiving treatment at home from the regional hospital's community nursing service were reviewed. All were active cases on 31 October 2000.


RESULTS
The patients' median age was 76 (range: 36-100); 86% were aged over 65. Seventy-five percent of the patients had dressings changed daily, with 28 types of dressing being used. Nurses changed dressings in the patients' homes or in residential homes. Of the 94 patients with ulcers on the lower leg and foot, 75% had their dressings changed daily and only six less than three times a week. Fifty-four percent received regular podiatry clinic follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
Care of patients with ulcers on the lower limb represents a considerable workload for community nurses in Hong Kong, where little attention has been paid to the problem and current treatments. The number of patients with these ulcers cared for by community nurses in Hong Kong was high, with wide variations in management. Further investigation into evidence-based practice is needed to develop clinical guidelines and protocols that will achieve quality care. Research is now required in a clinical setting and for comparison with existing wound-care products.
Wong
I
I
Nethersole School of Nursing, Chinese University of Hong Kong. irene@cuhk.edu.hk
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D016523:Foot Ulcer / Q000453:epidemiology; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007871:Leg Ulcer / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies