Influence of psychosocial factors on coping and living with a venous leg ulcer

This clinical focus and literature review describe the effect of psychosocial factors on coping and living with a venous leg ulcer (VLU). The associated stressors of living with a VLU include: pain, loss of self-esteem, and social isolation, with subsequent negative emotions that could potentially lead to anxiety and depression. The ability to cope with a VLU depends upon the individual, with some patients employing negative coping strategies such as denial, depending on the stage of the illness and level of acceptance reached (Husband, 2001; Brown, 2014). Psychosocial interventions by health professionals have been shown to reduce the stress of living with a VLU, to improve a patient's coping ability, and subsequently enhance wound healing. This article highlights the importance of holistic assessment and joint treatment planning, to incorporate patients' psychosocial needs and individual coping methods in order to reduce the associated stress of living with a VLU.