title: Compression therapy - current practice of care: level of knowledge in patients with venous leg ulcers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Compression therapy is a mainstay in the causal treatment of patients with venous leg ulcers. It facilitates healing, reduces pain and recurrences, and increases quality of life. Up until now, there is a scarcity of scientific data with respect to the level of care and the specific knowledge of patients with venous leg ulcers.
  
  
  METHODS
  At first presentation, patients with venous leg ulcers anonymously answered a standardized questionnaire. Participating facilities nationwide included 55 outpatient care services, 32 medical practices, four wound centers, and one specialized care center.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 177 patients (mean age of 69.4; 75.1 % women) participated in the study. The average duration of florid venous leg ulcers was 17 months. With regard to compression therapy, 31.1 % of patients received none; 40.1 % used bandages; 28.8 % used stockings. Of the latter, 13.7 % were treated with compression class III; 67.4 %, with compression class II; and 19.6 %; with compression class I. While 70.6 % put on their stockings after getting out of bed in the morning, 21.1 % wore them day and night. In 39.2 % of individuals, the stockings caused them discomfort. Merely 11.7 % owned a donning device. On average, bandages were worn for 40.7 weeks, and 69 % were used without underpadding. In 2.8 % of patients, ankle and calf circumference was measured to monitor therapeutic success. 45.9 % reported doing leg exercises.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although it is considered a basic therapeutic measure in venous leg ulcers, one-third of all patients received no compression treatment. Moreover, given the long duration of ulcers, adequate product selection and correct use have to be questioned, too. Our findings indicate that improvements in the level of knowledge among users and prescribers as well as patient training are required.
authors.affiliation: University Medical Center Hamburg Eppendorf, Institute for Health Services Research in Dermatology and Nursing (IVDP), CWC - Comprehensive Wound Center, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Protz
authors.affiliation: University Medical Center Hamburg Eppendorf, Institute for Health Services Research in Dermatology and Nursing (IVDP), CWC - Comprehensive Wound Center, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Heyer
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Venereology, und Allergology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dissemond
authors.affiliation: Wound Practice Berlin, Surgery, Hospital Neukölln, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Temme
authors.affiliation: Group Practice Bramfeld, General Medicine, Internal Medicine and Phlebology, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Karl-Christian
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Münter
authors.affiliation: District Hospital Frankenberg gGmbH, Training Center for Nursing Professions, Frankenberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Ida
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Verheyen-Cronau
authors.affiliation: University Medical Center Hamburg Eppendorf, Institute for Health Services Research in Dermatology and Nursing (IVDP), CWC - Comprehensive Wound Center, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Klose
authors.affiliation: ORGAMed Dortmund GmbH, Medical Care Service, Dortmund, Germany.
authors.forename: Carsten
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hampel-Kalthoff
authors.affiliation: University Medical Center Hamburg Eppendorf, Institute for Health Services Research in Dermatology and Nursing (IVDP), CWC - Comprehensive Wound Center, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Augustin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D058128:Compression Bandages / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D057220:Health Literacy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D048228:Intermittent Pneumatic Compression Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014647:Varicose Ulcer / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*