Managing and promoting change: implementing the Leg Club model.
Patient knowledge of their disease may increase concordance to compression therapy. The Lindsay Leg Club model (Lindsay, 2004) empowers the community nursing team to truly get to know their communities and deliver local, high-quality, evidence-based care for patients with leg ulcers and leg related problems. The author's experience of opening a Leg Club has lead to changes in clinical practice: re-evaluation of the use of long stretch bandages in favour of short stretch; replacing conventional compression bandage systems with two piece graduated compression hosiery; increased patient concordance post healing with increased use of compression hosiery; the introduction of toe bandaging and appropriate long-term management for those patients with lymphoedema; and developing the role of the nursing auxiliary in leg ulcer care.
Seymour
Ellen
E
Western Sussex PCT, Chichester, UK. ellen.seymour@wsx-pct.nhs.uk
D001458:Bandages; D003152:Community Health Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D019058:Community Networks / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D007871:Leg Ulcer / Q000150:complications / Q000451:nursing*; D008209:Lymphedema / Q000209:etiology / Q000451:nursing; D016294:Models, Nursing; D009746:Nursing, Team / Q000379:methods; D010349:Patient Compliance; D016730:Program Development / Q000379:methods*; D012944:Social Support; D013192:Staff Development / Q000379:methods; D006113:United Kingdom