Elderly persons' experiences of living with venous leg ulcer: living in a dialectal relationship between freedom and imprisonment
| Document type: | Journal Articles |
|---|---|
| Article type: | Original article |
| Peer reviewed: | Yes |
| Author(s): | B Ebbeskog, Sirkka-Liisa Ekman |
| Title: | Elderly persons' experiences of living with venous leg ulcer: living in a dialectal relationship between freedom and imprisonment |
| Journal: | SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF CARING SCIENCES |
| Year: | 2001 |
| Volume: | 15 |
| Issue: | 3 |
| Pagination: | 235-243 |
| ISSN: | 0283-9318 |
| Publisher: | TAYLOR & FRANCIS AS |
| City: | OSLO |
| ISI number: | 000171306100006 |
| Organization: | Blekinge Institute of Technology |
| Department: | Department of Health, Science and Mathematics (Institutionen för hälso- och naturvetenskap) Dept. of Health, Science and Mathematics S-371 79 Karlskrona +46 455 38 50 00 http://www.bth.se/ihn/ |
| Language: | English |
| Abstract: | The aim was to illuminate elderly persons' experiences of living with venous leg ulcer. Fifteen persons 74-89 years of age with active leg ulcer were interviewed. Data were analysed utilizing a phenomenological-hermeneutic approach inspired by Ricoeur. The analysis includes dialectic movement between understanding and explanation of the text as a whole and its parts, In the structural analysis four themes were identified: emotional consequences of altered body image, living a restricted life, achievement of well-being in connection with a painful wound and bandage, and struggle between hope and despair with regard to a lengthy healing process. The comprehensive understanding indicated that the meaning of living with venous leg ulcer can be understood as a dialectal relationship between, on the one hand the feeling of being imprisoned in the body, the bandage and the home, and on the other hand, hope of freedom from a burdensome body. The results indicate that the concept, body of image, is vitally relevant to the caring, of elderly people with venous leg ulcer. The study shows the importance of recognizing the persons' perceptions of their leg ulcers and the impact of these perceptions on well-being. Nurses can thereby anticipate problems and provide more sensitive care. |
| Subject: | Nursing & Caring Sciences\General |
| Keywords: | venous leg ulcer, phenomenological-hermeneutic, lived experience, elderly people, nursing research |
