Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 1, 2026
Integrating Augmented Reality Tools in Breast Cancer Related Lymphedema Prognostication and Diagnosis
Published on: February 6, 2020
Confidence of recurrent cellulitis self-diagnosis among people with lymphoedema: a qualitative interview study
Mitesh Patel1, Siang Ing Lee1, Nick J Levell2
1School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham.
Insights
People with lymphoedema and recurrent cellulitis are confident in self-diagnosing their condition. Greater involvement of patients in the cellulitis diagnosis process may be beneficial.
Area of Science:
- Medical Diagnostics
- Dermatology
- Patient Experience
Background:
- Accurate cellulitis diagnosis is challenging due to lack of validated criteria.
- Improving cellulitis diagnosis in specific populations like those with lymphoedema is a research priority.
- The role of non-healthcare professionals in cellulitis diagnosis has not been previously studied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the experiences of individuals with lymphoedema and recurrent cellulitis in the diagnostic process of lower-limb cellulitis.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative study employing single, semi-structured interviews.
- Interviews were conducted between October 29 and December 19, 2018.
- Participants included adults with suspected cellulitis, diagnosed within the last 12 months or with a history of recurrent cellulitis.
Main Results:
- Three main themes emerged: recurrence of cellulitis symptoms, the diagnostic experience, and suggestions for improvement.
- Individuals with lymphoedema often recognized recurrent cellulitis symptoms and felt confident in self-diagnosis.
- Participants suggested diagnostic checklists and educational resources to enhance cellulitis diagnosis.
Conclusions:
- Individuals with lymphoedema and recurrent cellulitis demonstrate confidence in self-diagnosis.
- There is potential for increased patient involvement in the cellulitis diagnostic pathway.
Background:
Cellulitis can sometimes be challenging for healthcare professionals to diagnose, with no validated diagnostic criteria available. Supporting healthcare professionals to make a more accurate diagnosis of cellulitis in different groups, such as those with lymphoedema, is a cellulitis research priority. However, to the authors knowledge, no previous studies have looked at the involvement of non-healthcare professionals in the diagnostic process.
Aim:
To explore the experience of people with lymphoedema and recurrent cellulitis in the diagnosis of lower-limb cellulitis.
Design And Setting:
Single, semi-structured, qualitative interviews carried out between 29 October and 19 December 2018.
Method:
Adults with a suspected episode of cellulitis who had been diagnosed in the last 12 months or had a history of recurrent cellulitis were interviewed.
Results:
Three key themes emerged: the recurrent nature of cellulitis symptoms, participants' experience of getting a cellulitis diagnosis, and participants' suggestions of how cellulitis diagnosis might be improved. Generally, people with lymphoedema experienced similar clinical features during each of their own recurrent cellulitis episodes and were confident that they could make a self-diagnosis of cellulitis. This is also reflected in the participants' perceived trust from the healthcare professional in being able to make a self-diagnosis. A diagnostic checklist and educational resources were suggested as methods to improve diagnosis.
Conclusion:
Selected people with lymphoedema who have recurrent cellulitis are confident in self-diagnosing their own recurrent cellulitis episodes. There may be a role for greater involvement of people with lymphoedema in their cellulitis diagnosis.
