Poster CR-029

The Meaning of Chronic Wounds in Patient's in Long-Term Care

Rochelle M. Bourassa , DHSc, DPT, CLT-LANA, CWS

Presented at Symposium on Advanced Wound Care Spring 2022

Introduction: Chronic wounds result in significant challenges that can affect quality of life (QoL). Though, there is limited research to describe the lived experience and meaning ascribed to living with a chronic wound in the older adult population using a qualitative approach. Ultimately, by examining residents’ lived experiences living with a wound in a skilled nursing facility, QoL in patients can be more fully characterized and clinical outcomes maximized. The purpose of this study was to understand older adults’ lived experience with a chronic wound in a long-term care facility. Methods: Adults aged 65 or older with chronic wounds were recruited from a long-term care unit and participated in individual semi-structured interviews. The researcher utilized Colaizzi’s seven-step coding process to analyze the interview data and develop overarching themes.Results: Seven participants completed the study, including five females and two males with chronic wounds. Participant ages ranged from 65 to 92 years old. Wound etiology varied with three pressure injuries, two post-operative, one injury, and one secondary to chronic venous insufficiency. Four major themes and nine sub-themes emerged which help to characterize the participants’ lived experiences. The four major themes were: lack of independence, confinement/limitations, interruptions, and emotional sequelae. Discussion: Chronic wounds contribute to feelings of confinement and social isolation for residents in long-term care facilities. Improved mobility and independence may also increase their chances of returning home, subsequently decreasing feelings of confinement, and resulting in fewer interruptions in daily activities. Perhaps the most meaningful difference between residents residing in long-term care facilities and those community-dwelling older adults was the perception of positive care felt by those in the long-term care facility. All participants reported positive, knowledgeable, and constant care received while in the long-term care facility. These findings can aid in decreasing the negative stigma long-term care facilities face and shed light on the level of care long-term care facilities provide individuals with chronic wounds.

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