Psychosocial Aspects of Chronic Lower Leg Ulceration in the Elderly

The perceived health of a group of elderly people with chronic lower leg ulceration was compared with health perceptions of a matched group of controls. The perceived psychological well-being, self-esteem, life satisfaction, and social supports of the two groups were also compared. The people with l...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Western journal of nursing research 1994-04, Vol.16 (2), p.183-192
Main Authors: Flett, Ross, Harcourt, Brian, Alpass, Fiona
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Activities of Daily Living
Affect
Attitude to Health
Case-Control Studies
Chronic Disease
Chronic illnesses
Chronic pain
Female
Health problems
Health Status
Humans
Leg Ulcer - nursing
Leg Ulcer - physiopathology
Leg Ulcer - psychology
Leg ulcers
Life satisfaction
Male
Matched-Pair Analysis
Medical personnel
Middle Aged
Mobility
Negative emotions
Nursing
Older people
Personal Satisfaction
Physical symptoms
Psychological well being
Psychosocial factors
Quality of Life
Self Concept
Self esteem
Social Support
Surveys and Questionnaires
Ulcers
Well being
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Summary:The perceived health of a group of elderly people with chronic lower leg ulceration was compared with health perceptions of a matched group of controls. The perceived psychological well-being, self-esteem, life satisfaction, and social supports of the two groups were also compared. The people with leg ulceration described significantly more problems with activity and mobility, pain, and health worries and concerns than the control group. The groups did not differ significantly in their general evaluations of their health status, the experience of physical symptoms, or the numbers of diagnosed medical problems present. The leg ulcer group reported significantly lower levels of self-esteem and higher levels of negative affect, but the groups did not differ significantly on the other psychological variables. Leg ulcers are a serious problem for those affected by them, and health care providers need to be more informed about the effect of chronic health problems on elderly persons.
ISSN:0193-9459
1552-8456
DOI:10.1177/019394599401600205