title: Chronic venous leg ulcers: effect of a community nursing intervention on pain and healing.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effectiveness of a new community nursing model of care for clients with chronic leg ulcers in terms of levels of pain and ulcer healing.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomised controlled trial comparing the new model of care with standard community nursing care was conducted with a sample of 56 clients with chronic venous leg ulcers, 28 clients in the intervention group and 28 in the control group. Data were collected on admission to the study and at 12 weeks from admission.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant improvements in levels of pain and ulcer healing were found in the intervention group receiving the new model of care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results from this study have implications for health professionals providing care for clients with chronic leg ulcers.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Queensland University of Technology, Australia. h.edwards@qut.edu.au
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Courtney
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Finlayson
authors.forename: Ellie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lindsay
authors.forename: Coroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Shuter
authors.forename: Allan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003152:Community Health Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016294:Models, Nursing; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011793:Queensland; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012657:Self-Help Groups / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017592:Skin Care / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing; D012944:Social Support; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014647:Varicose Ulcer / Q000150:complications / Q000451:nursing*; D014945:Wound Healing