Development of a consultation and teaching concept for leg wound treatment in home health care

We developed a consultation and teaching concept about leg wounds and their care, for use by patients and caregivers in a home health-care setting. Descriptive data were gathered through a survey distributed to three groups, comprising 21 individuals (18 nurses and 3 health administrators). These participants provided answers regarding group activities, meeting frequency, meeting notes and meeting content, as well as responses to questions regarding the Website, Web materials, film and a pamphlet. Seventeen people answered the survey (81% response rate). They made predominantly positive comments. The combined total average score was 3.6 (1=very bad to 4=very good). The concept was implemented in one municipality in a health-care region in southern Sweden using high bandwidth videophones (640 kbit/s). The results showed that elderly persons at home and nurses working in home health care were interested in using the concept and communicating via videophone. A strength of the Web-based information and communication material is its adaptability to suit both patients and care givers.