Stress, illness perceptions, behaviours and healing in venous leg ulcers: findings from a prospective observational study
Objective: To investigate the impact of stress, illness perceptions and behaviours on healing of venous leg ulcers. Methods: A prospective observational study of 63 individuals for 24 weeks investigated possible psychosocial predictors of healing. There were two indices of healing: rate of change...
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| Format: | Article |
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Wolters Kluwer
2017
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| Online Access: | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/42413/ |
| _version_ | 1848796482512093184 |
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| author | Walburn, Jessica Weinman, John Norton, Sam Hankins, Matthew Dawe, Karen Banjoko, Bolatito Vedhara, Kavita |
| author_facet | Walburn, Jessica Weinman, John Norton, Sam Hankins, Matthew Dawe, Karen Banjoko, Bolatito Vedhara, Kavita |
| author_sort | Walburn, Jessica |
| building | Nottingham Research Data Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Objective: To investigate the impact of stress, illness perceptions and behaviours on healing of venous leg ulcers.
Methods: A prospective observational study of 63 individuals for 24 weeks investigated possible psychosocial predictors of healing. There were two indices of healing: rate of change in ulcer area and number of weeks to heal. Psychological variables were assessed at baseline using self-report measures (Perceived Stress Scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire, adapted Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities, Adherence Questionnaire and Short-Form Health Survey).
Results: Controlling for socio-demographic and clinical variables, over the 24 weeks a slower rate of change in ulcer area was predicted by greater stress (standardised beta =-0.61, p=0.008); depression (standardised beta =-0.51, p=0.039); holding negative perceptions or beliefs about the ulcer (standardised beta =-1.4, p=0.045). By 24 weeks 69% of ulcers had closed. A more negative emotional response to the ulcer at baseline, (i.e., emotional representation of the ulcer), was associated with a greater number of weeks to heal [Hazard Ratio (HR) = 0.63, 95% CI 0.41 - 0.95, p=0.028]. Higher educational attainment (HR= 3.22, 95% CI 1.37 - 7.55, p=0.007) and better adherence to compression bandaging (HR= 1.41 95% CI 1.06 - 1.88, p=0.019) were associated with fewer weeks to heal. No other psychosocial variable (stress; perceptions about the ulcer; health behaviours) predicted weeks to heal.
Conclusions: Alongside ulcer-related predictors, psychological and sociodemographic factors were associated with healing. Future research should explore mediating mechanisms underlying these associations and develop interventions to target these variables. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T19:48:41Z |
| format | Article |
| id | nottingham-42413 |
| institution | University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T19:48:41Z |
| publishDate | 2017 |
| publisher | Wolters Kluwer |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | nottingham-424132020-05-04T19:57:14Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/42413/ Stress, illness perceptions, behaviours and healing in venous leg ulcers: findings from a prospective observational study Walburn, Jessica Weinman, John Norton, Sam Hankins, Matthew Dawe, Karen Banjoko, Bolatito Vedhara, Kavita Objective: To investigate the impact of stress, illness perceptions and behaviours on healing of venous leg ulcers. Methods: A prospective observational study of 63 individuals for 24 weeks investigated possible psychosocial predictors of healing. There were two indices of healing: rate of change in ulcer area and number of weeks to heal. Psychological variables were assessed at baseline using self-report measures (Perceived Stress Scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire, adapted Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities, Adherence Questionnaire and Short-Form Health Survey). Results: Controlling for socio-demographic and clinical variables, over the 24 weeks a slower rate of change in ulcer area was predicted by greater stress (standardised beta =-0.61, p=0.008); depression (standardised beta =-0.51, p=0.039); holding negative perceptions or beliefs about the ulcer (standardised beta =-1.4, p=0.045). By 24 weeks 69% of ulcers had closed. A more negative emotional response to the ulcer at baseline, (i.e., emotional representation of the ulcer), was associated with a greater number of weeks to heal [Hazard Ratio (HR) = 0.63, 95% CI 0.41 - 0.95, p=0.028]. Higher educational attainment (HR= 3.22, 95% CI 1.37 - 7.55, p=0.007) and better adherence to compression bandaging (HR= 1.41 95% CI 1.06 - 1.88, p=0.019) were associated with fewer weeks to heal. No other psychosocial variable (stress; perceptions about the ulcer; health behaviours) predicted weeks to heal. Conclusions: Alongside ulcer-related predictors, psychological and sociodemographic factors were associated with healing. Future research should explore mediating mechanisms underlying these associations and develop interventions to target these variables. Wolters Kluwer 2017-06 Article PeerReviewed Walburn, Jessica, Weinman, John, Norton, Sam, Hankins, Matthew, Dawe, Karen, Banjoko, Bolatito and Vedhara, Kavita (2017) Stress, illness perceptions, behaviours and healing in venous leg ulcers: findings from a prospective observational study. Psychosomatic Medicine, 79 (5). pp. 585-592. ISSN 1534-7796 Stress; Illness Perceptions; Behaviours; Healing; Venous Leg Ulcers http://journals.lww.com/psychosomaticmedicine/Abstract/publishahead/Stress,_Illness_Perceptions,_Behaviours_and.98865.aspx doi:10.1097/PSY.0000000000000436 doi:10.1097/PSY.0000000000000436 |
| spellingShingle | Stress; Illness Perceptions; Behaviours; Healing; Venous Leg Ulcers Walburn, Jessica Weinman, John Norton, Sam Hankins, Matthew Dawe, Karen Banjoko, Bolatito Vedhara, Kavita Stress, illness perceptions, behaviours and healing in venous leg ulcers: findings from a prospective observational study |
| title | Stress, illness perceptions, behaviours and healing in venous leg ulcers: findings from a prospective observational study |
| title_full | Stress, illness perceptions, behaviours and healing in venous leg ulcers: findings from a prospective observational study |
| title_fullStr | Stress, illness perceptions, behaviours and healing in venous leg ulcers: findings from a prospective observational study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Stress, illness perceptions, behaviours and healing in venous leg ulcers: findings from a prospective observational study |
| title_short | Stress, illness perceptions, behaviours and healing in venous leg ulcers: findings from a prospective observational study |
| title_sort | stress, illness perceptions, behaviours and healing in venous leg ulcers: findings from a prospective observational study |
| topic | Stress; Illness Perceptions; Behaviours; Healing; Venous Leg Ulcers |
| url | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/42413/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/42413/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/42413/ |