Patients’ Perspectives of Pain, Time, and Hope When Living with Venous Leg Ulcers and Using the geko™ Device: A Qualitative Descriptive Inquiry.

Introduction: Venous leg ulcers have an impact on individuals’ perspectives of pain, time, and hope. Community nurses seek to provide person-centred care to patients living with venous leg ulcers. There is a paucity of research exploring individuals’ experiences while living with leg ulcers, specifically their insights into the role of a neuromuscular electrostimulation medical device (geko™). Methods: Using a qualitative descriptive approach and telephone interviews, seven participants shared their experiences living with venous leg ulcers and when using a geko™ device. Research ethics was approved, and informed client consent obtained. Thematic analysis method was utilized to analyze the data. Interviews were typed verbatim and analysis focused on a data-driven approach, leading themes emerged. Results: Participants described regular use of pain medications. They described the concept of ‘time’ from the onset of the venous leg ulcer, through wound reoccurrences, and treatments. Participants described feeling hopeful the geko™ device would support wound healing and assist the wound to become smaller and heal faster. Conclusions: This small qualitative study adds to a growing body of literature focused on the role of the geko™ adjunctive therapy in venous leg ulcer healing. More research is needed to understand the role of adjunctive therapies as they may offer patients' hope and create optimism toward wound healing as part of multi-modal treatment approach. Keywords: geko™, individual perspectives, qualitative descriptive, pain, time, hope