Making Conscientious Decisions

Engaging in Venous Leg Ulcer Self-Management Following Nurse-Led Patient Education

Bibliographic Data

ID4625179
AuthorsPaul Bobbink (0000-0001-6407-455X, Geneva School of Health Sciences, HES-SO, University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Western Switzerland, Geneva, Switzerland, corresponding author), Géraldine Gschwind (0000-0002-0815-2629, Wound Care, Outpatient Surgery Unit, Hôpital du Jura, Delémont, Switzerland), Philip Larkin (0000-0001-8424-3920, Palliative and Supportive Care Service and Institute of Higher Education and Research in Healthcare, Department of Palliative and Supportive Care, Hôpital Nestlé, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland), Sebastian Probst (0009-0006-2642-9915, Geneva School of Health Sciences, HES-SO, University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Western Switzerland, Geneva, Switzerland)
Year2025
Volume35
Issue8
Pages901-915
Publication date2025-07-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueQualitative Health Research (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1049-7323 • E-ISSN: 1552-7557
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/10497323241285692
PMID39465902
OpenAlexW4403836026
LanguageEN
References cited54

Venous leg ulcers (VLUs) provoke multiple symptoms and impact individuals and society as a whole. Their treatment and prevention strategies require individual's involvement in self-management strategies. Insufficient knowledge with regard to prevention, management, and treatment has been identified as a critical factor related to VLUs and their recurrence. Therapeutic patient education (TPE) proposed as part of a management strategy for this population provides unclear benefits regarding wounds healing or prevention of recurrence. The aim of the study was to develop a theory explaining how individuals with a VLU experience an individualized nurse-led TPE program regarding self-management strategies. The constructivist approach of Charmaz to the grounded theory method was used to develop the theory. A total of 26 individuals contributed to the co-construction of the theory through face-to-face or telephone semi-structured interviews. Data analysis and data collection occurs simultaneously with a comparative process to reveal the conceptual categories, apply theoretical sampling, and define theoretical saturation. The theory of "Conscientiously Engaging in Self-Management" was co-constructed with the participants encapsulating four categories: "Being influenced by my own story," "Being personally informed," "Making conscientious decisions to engage in self-adapted management strategies," and "Integrating a conscientious way of living." This theory highlights individuals' voices and stories toward their journey of VLU self-management taking contextual factors into consideration. This new theory offers new knowledge about implementation of self-management strategies for individuals living with a VLU and will inform clinical practice and contribute to the development of targeted interventions

Constructivist grounded theory · Grounded theory · Population · Psychological intervention · Qualitative research · Self-efficacy · Self-management · Theoretical sampling · Diagnosis and Treatment of Venous Diseases · Medicine · Nursing · Pressure Ulcer Prevention and Management · Psychology · Social Psychology · Venous Thromboembolism Diagnosis and Management

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