Comparing Nurse Clinics and Home Care for Leg Ulcer Treatment
Author Information
Author(s): Margaret B Harrison, Ian D Graham, Karen Lorimer, Elizabeth VandenKerkhof, Maureen Buchanan, Phil S Wells, Tim Brandys, Tadeusz Pierscianowski
Primary Institution: Queen's University
Hypothesis
Receiving care in the clinic setting would improve healing rates at 3 months.
Conclusion
The organization of care, not the setting, influences healing rates for leg ulcers.
Supporting Evidence
- Both home and clinic groups had similar healing rates at 3 months.
- Care was delivered by the same specially trained nursing team in both settings.
- High satisfaction levels were reported by participants in both care settings.
Takeaway
This study looked at how well people with leg ulcers heal when treated at home versus in a nurse clinic. It found that it doesn't matter where they get treated as long as the care is good.
Methodology
A randomized controlled trial comparing healing rates of leg ulcer care delivered at home versus in a nurse-run clinic.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to nurses collecting data and patients' preferences affecting outcomes.
Limitations
The trial was underpowered due to strong patient preferences for care setting, and blinding was not feasible.
Participant Demographics
Mean age 69 years, 68% females, 84% English-speaking, half with previous ulcer episodes.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.5
Statistical Significance
p = 0.5
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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