'Look after your legs': patients' experience of an assessment clinic.
Venous leg ulcers are a chronic, recurring condition and a major cause of morbidity, especially in older people. Two inner city district nursing teams initiated a weekly, nurse-led, leg ulcer assessment clinic, and a monthly support group for patients with healed or almost healed leg ulcers. The group supports and empowers patients with self-care 'look after your legs' health promotion messages. The support group uses a similar model to the expert patient programme (Department for Health, 2001). Patients in the group coined the unique name 'patient ambassador'. Patient ambassadors, with nursing support, are used to promote self care and lifestyle changes to members of the group to prevent recurrence of leg ulceration. The aim of the research reported here was to evaluate teh 'Look after Your Legs'(LAYL) service and the benefit to others of the patient ambassador role.
Freeman
Elaine
E
Gloucestershire Research and Development Support Unit, UK. elaine.freeman@glos.nhs.uk
Gibbins
Annabel
A
Walker
Mark
M
Hapeshi
Julie
J
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000458:organization & administration*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D004739:England; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007871:Leg Ulcer / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D008019:Life Style; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000458:organization & administration; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration; D010379:Peer Group; D011209:Power, Psychological; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011637:Public Health Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D012657:Self-Help Groups / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires