title: The comparative impact of conservative treatment versus superficial venous surgery, for the treatment of venous leg ulcers: A systematic review of the impact on patients' quality of life.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Leg ulcers are known to have a profound effect on patients' quality of life; however, the influence of different treatment approaches is unclear. This review aims to evaluate the comparative impact of conservative treatments and superficial venous surgery, for venous leg ulcers, on patients' Quality of Life.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three electronic databases (PsycInfo, Medline and CINAHL), and reference lists of relevant articles, were searched. A total of 209 articles were initially identified, and 16 articles were included in the review.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results lend cautious support to the suggestion that all treatments have a positive effect on quality of life, regardless of type, whilst wound status also appears to be an important factor.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Some evidence suggests that surgical treatment methods may lead to greater improvements in patients' quality of life than compression bandaging alone; however, future research may focus on the psychological mechanisms underlying such changes.
authors: School of Psychology, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, UK p.tollow@surrey.ac.uk.
authors: Philippa
authors: P
authors: Tollow
authors: School of Psychology, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, UK.
authors: Jane
authors: J
authors: Ogden
authors: The Whiteley Clinic, Stirling House, Stirling Road, Guildford, Surrey, UK Faculty of Health and Biomedical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, UK.
authors: Mark S
authors: MS
authors: Whiteley
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007871:Leg Ulcer / Q000601:surgery*; D011788:Quality of Life; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Venous ulceration; compression; quality of life assessment; vascular surgery