title: Association of sociodemographic factors with hope for cure, religiosity, and spirituality in patients with venous ulcers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of the study was to evaluate the association of sociodemographic factors with hope for cure and levels of religiosity and spirituality in patients with venous leg ulcers (VLUs).
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a primary, prospective, descriptive, analytical, clinical, nonrandomized study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was performed at a nursing care and education center of a university hospital in interior Minas Gerais, Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  A convenience sample of 50 adult patients with VLUs and Doppler ankle-brachial index ranging from 0.8 to 1.0 participated in the study. Patients with mixed ulcers, arterial ulcers, and diabetic foot ulcers were excluded from the study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire assessing sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of patients, the Spirituality Self-rating Scale (SSRS), and the Herth Hope Index (HHI) were administered to all patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean SSRS score was 10.20, and the mean HHI was 25.5, corresponding to low levels of spirituality and moderate hope for cure, respectively. Patients aged between 50 and 59 years, men, nonsmokers, and those who were unemployed had the lowest mean SSRS scores. The lowest mean HHI values were reported by patients whose ulcers had exudate and odor, those aged 20 to 39 years, retired, and living with the wound for 1 year or less. Patients who had no religion or were not practicing a religion and those who considered living with an ulcer as a punishment reported low SSRS scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results showed that most patients with VLUs had low levels of spirituality, did not perceive divine intervention in their daily life or practice religious activities such as prayer, and had moderate hope for cure.
authors.affiliation: Geraldo Magela Salomé, PhD, RN, is an Adjunct Professor of the master's degree program in Sciences Applied to Health, University of Vale do Sapucaí (UNIVÁS), Pouso Alegre, MG, Brazil. Sergio Aguinaldo de Almeida, RN, is a Specialist in Auditing in Private Practice, São Paulo, Brazil . Lydia Masako Ferreira, MD, PhD, is a Professor in the Division of Plastic Surgery, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Geraldo Magela
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Salomé
authors.forename: Sergio Aguinaldo
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: de Almeida
authors.forename: Lydia Masako
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Ferreira
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil; D005260:Female; D065026:Hope; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012923:Social Class; D029181:Spirituality; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014647:Varicose Ulcer / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D055815:Young Adult