Unna's boot: experience of care of people with venous ulcers

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: to understand the experience of care of people with venous ulcers using an Unna's boot. METHOD: a qualitative study, based on the social phenomenology by Alfred Schütz, was carried out with 12 adults interviewed in 2015. The statements were analyzed and organized in thematic categories. RESULTS: the following categories emerged: "Unna's boot annoyance versus wound improvement", "Difficulties for accessing care with the Unna's boot", "Care for healing and preventing recurrence", and "Receiving more attention from the healthcare professional". CONCLUSION: the experience of care of people using an Unna's boot revealed the annoyance caused by this device, which was overcome due to the wound improvement. However, access to care was compromised by the lack of structure at the service, frustrating the patients' expectations regarding wound healing. The issues of these people's intersubjective universe should be considered in the management of care of venous ulcers.