A clinical trial in the management of venous leg ulcers in the community

Abstract

The purpose of this clinical trial was to compare two types of treatment methods in the management of chronic venous leg ulceration in the community. The study necessitated an experimental and a control group. The control group included four participants that were treated with the conventional method of using an antibiotic ointment, Bactroban and a support bandage. The experimental group included five participants that were treated with a hydrocolloid dressing, Improved Formulation Granuflex and a three layer compression bandage. The study was a small-scale clinical trial using experimental research. The sample chosen was one of convenience. Therefore, eligibility criteria on who could participate was designed in order to balance as many variables as possible. The study was carried out over a period of six weeks. The researcher cared for the experimental group while two fieldworkers, that were community nurses, cared for the control group. The participants were assessed by the researcher on entry to the study and thereafter once a week. The results suggested that the conventional method of managing clients with leg ulcers was not the most beneficial. The participants in the experimental group, healed faster and experienced less pain on dressing changes and while the dressing was in situ. Moreover, the method used in the experimental group was found to be more cost-effective, both in the material cost involved and also in the nursing time.