Abstract
In patients with chronic venous disease, it is well known that compression stockings are effective at preventing complications such as venous ulcer formation. Venous ulcers provide significant challenges for both the patient and clinician, as they are painful, difficult to treat, and often recurring. Despite this, adherence rates of preventative compression stocking use are poor. Therefore, this qualitative study focused on gaining a deeper understanding of local patients’ experiences with compression stockings by identifying and investigating barriers and facilitators to patient compliance.
Twenty-five participants were recruited via purposive sampling, and a series of semi-structured interviews were carried until thematic saturation was reached. Analysis identified three key themes: physical factors, psychological factors, and external factors, that influenced compression stocking use, which could be broken down into ten further subthemes. Additional key findings included the influence age and sex had on how participants perceived the stockings’ appearance, and how comorbidities can contribute to application difficulty. Two facilitators of a sense of security provided by the stockings, and stocking use becoming a part of the participants’ daily routine were novel, as these are not elsewhere mentioned in the literature.
Understanding barriers and facilitators through a qualitative lens has provided a deeper understanding of the factors this study identified to influence patient adherence. Clinicians can utilise this to provide a multidimensional approach, addressing barriers for the individual patient and improving overall adherence.