Managing Venous Leg Ulcers in the Community: Personal Financial Cost to Sufferers

Abstract

Venous leg ulcers are chronic wounds which often persist for many years, despite active treatment, and occur predominantly in people over the age of 60. In recent times, the care of these wounds has shifted from the acute care sector into the community, where wound care services and products aren't fully subsidised by the government. It is logical to assume that these costs are passed onto the client; however, within the Australian context there is currently no research concerning the magnitude of such costs, although anecdotal evidence suggests they can be substantial. The purpose of this pilot study was to describe the average cost of managing a venous leg ulcer in the community. The study forms a pilot for future larger-scale studies within the Australian setting. A descriptive-correlational design was used to identify costs incurred by a convenience sample of 15 venous leg ulcer sufferers over a two-month period. It was found that, on average, participants spent A$114 a month managing their ulcer. Total management cost was found to be related to the size of the wound and the amount of exudate produced, while residential location influenced the type of expenses incurred. The results indicate that expenses incurred by sufferers in the process of managing their venous leg ulcer are concerning, especially in light of the financial situation of many elderly people. Larger, more rigorous studies are recommended in order to further investigate these issues.