Perception of self-care in users with chronic wounds

Abstract

Objective: to understand the perception of patients with chronic wounds about self-care. Method: descriptive-exploratory study, with a qualitative approach, conducted with 10 patients in august 2021, at the Reference Center for Prevention and Treatment of Chronic Ulcers in the city of Parnamirim/Rio Grande do Norte. A semi-structured interview script and content analysis were used according to Bardin's proposal, using the technique of content analysis and decoding of data into categories. Being approved by the ethics committee of the Maurício de Nassau University Center. Results: Difficulties with self-care in chronic wound patients were identified, their implications on quality of life such as: pain, discomfort, difficulty in locomotion and psychological exhaustion, as well as superficial information on the part ofprofessionals. Conclusion: The relevance of nurses' actions as a mediator of self-care was evidenced to ensure autonomy and improvement of quality of life in patients with chronic wounds and the need to strengthen educational practices in daily life.