Self-management to prevent venous leg ulcer recurrence: a scoping review

Aims To assess the evidence from the literature and characteristics of self-management strategies for preventing venous leg ulcer (VLU) recurrence after healing. Methods JBI Scoping Review guidelines were used to conduct a systematic database search of CINAHL, MEDLINE; PubMed; and Scopus (May 2023 updated March 2024). Two reviewers independently reviewed the data using Covidence. Results 22 articles were identified as meeting the inclusion criteria. The data extraction identified a prevalence of expert opinions, with limited systematic reviews, quantitative, mixed and qualitative research designs. The research was predominantly located in the UK and Australia, within metropolitan hospitals and community-based services. Limited demographic information was gathered. Most of the research was patient-based, with only one study including families and carers. Self-management interventions included compression; however, other interventions were less consistent. Conclusions Self-management to prevent VLU recurrence post-healing is a lifelong commitment, similar to any other chronic illness. Expanding self-management research to include contextual factors, such as family, economic impact and education, with a multidisciplinary lens may improve understanding of VLU and prevent reoccurrences.