Patient characteristics and environmental factors in leg ulcer healing

This study examined the effects of patient characteristics and environmental factors on the healing of leg ulcers in older people living in the community. A descriptive comparative design was used to examine factors such as age, gender, socio-economic status, cognition, smoking, ulcer duration, certain diseases and medication. Only socio-economic status was found to influence healing: patients from lower socio-economic classes were more likely to be non-healers. Recommendations on factors to consider in sampling criteria and research design in experimental studies are also discussed.