This article reviews the role of the social worker in home care, briefly describes the literature concerning the psychosocial impact on wound care patients, and suggests opportunities for expanding this area of inquiry. The literature suggests that patients who have leg, foot, or pressure ulcers experience quite a number of psychosocial problems related to the presence and treatment of the wounds. The author is of the opinion that wound care research should include more disciplines, specifically social workers.
Brod, M. (1998). Quality of life issues in patients with diabetes and lower extremity ulcers: Patients and care givers. Quality of Life Research, 7, 365-372.
2.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (1996). Home health agency manual (chap. 2). Retrieved August 12, 2003, from http://cms.hhs.gov/manuals/11_hha/hh200.asp
3.
Flanagan, M., Rotchell, L., Fletcher, J., & Schofield, J. (2001). Community nurses’, home careers’ and patients’ perceptions of factors affecting venous leg ulcer recurrence and management of services. Journal of Nursing Management, 9(3), 153-160.
4.
Flett, R., Harcourt, B., & Alpass, F. (1994). Psychosocial aspects of chronic lower leg ulceration in the elderly. Western Journal of Nursing Research, 16(2), 183-193.
5.
Fox, C. (2002). Living with a pressure ulcer: A descriptive study of patients’ experiences. British Journal of Community Nursing, WoundCare, 7(6), 10-16.
6.
Franks, P. J., & Moffatt, C. J. (2001). Health-related quality of life in patients with venous ulceration: Use of the Nottingham health profile. Quality of Life Research, 10, 693-700.
7.
Franks, P. J., Winterberg, H., & Moffatt, C. J. (2002). Health-related quality of life and pressure ulceration assessment in patients treated in the community. Wound Repair and Regeneration, 10(3), 133-140.
8.
Hyde, C., Ward, B., Horsfall, J., & Winder, G. (1999). Older women’s experience of living with chronic leg ulceration. International Journal of Nursing Practice, 5, 189-198.
9.
Lindsay, E. (2000). Leg clubs: A new approach to patient-centered leg ulcer management. Nursing and Health Sciences, 2, 139-141.
10.
Lindsay, E. (2004). The Lindsay Leg Club® model: A model for evidence-based leg ulcer management. British Journal of Community Nursing, WoundCare, 9, S15-S20.
11.
Meijer, J. W. G., Trip, J., Jaegers, S. M. H. J., Links, T. P., Smits, A. J., Groothoff, J. W., et al. (2001). Quality of life in patients with diabetic foot ulcers. Disability and Rehabilitation, 23(8), 336-340.
12.
Persoon, A., Heinen, M. M., van der Vleuten, C. J. M., de Rooij, M., van de Kerkhof, P. C. M., & van Achterberg, T. (2004). Leg ulcers: A review of their impact on daily life. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 13(3), 341-355.
13.
Piggin, C. (2003). Malodorous fungating wounds: Uncertain concepts underlying the management of social isolation. International Journal of Palliative Nursing, 9(5), 216-221.
14.
Wissing, U., Ek, A.-C., & Unosson, M. (2002). Life situation and function in elderly people with and without leg ulcers. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences, 16, 59-65.
