Venous leg ulcer patient priorities and quality of care: results of a survey

A comprehensive patient evaluation of quality of care encompasses assessment and patient-rated prioritization of the various provisions of care. One hundred consecutive venous leg ulcer patients treated in a multidisciplinary wound healing center were invited to participate in a cross-sectional study to assess the quality of and assign priority to 28 aspects of medical technical, interpersonal, and organizational care. The response rate to the mailed questionnaire and follow-up telephone survey was 80%. Almost half (46%) of patients (median age 76 years, range 30 to 92) had an ulcer history of >5 years. Seventy-three patients (91%) were satisfied with the overall quality of care. A linear relationship was observed between average assessment score and the relative importance of the quality aspects studied. The quality of medical technical care and empathy aspects of interpersonal care received the most positive assessments and were given highest priority. Next in importance were the quality and coherence of information provided and cooperation between different healthcare sectors. Organizational aspects of care were less positively assessed and received lower priority ratings. Venous leg ulcer care, as provided in a multidisciplinary wound healing center, was assessed as satisfactory by patients, but areas for improvement - notably, cooperation between healthcare sectors and continuity of care - were observed.