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Les interventions pour aider les personnes à l'observance des traitements de contention pour l'ulcère veineux de jambe

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Résumé scientifique

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Contexte

La cicatrisation des ulcères veineux chroniques est un problème clinique complexe qui demande l'intervention d'équipesqualifiées, coûteuses et multidisciplinaires. Il a été démontré que le traitement compressif aide à guérir les ulcères veineux et réduit le risque de récidive. On ne sait pas quelles sont les interventions qui aident les gens à adhérer au traitement compressif.

Objectifs

Évaluer les bénéfices et inconvénients des interventions conçues pour aider les personnes à adhérer au traitement compressif des ulcères veineux de jambe et ainsi améliorer la cicatrisation des ulcères veineux de jambe et prévenir leur récidive après la guérison.

Stratégie de recherche documentaire

En mai 2013 nous avons effectué des recherches dans le registre spécialisé du groupe Cochrane sur les plaies et contusions; le registre Cochrane des essais contrôlés (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library); Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid MEDLINE (In‐Process & Other Non‐Indexed Citations); Ovid EMBASE; EBSCO CINAHL; dans les registres d'essais, et les références bibliographiques des publications pertinentes pour trouver des essais publiés et en cours. Il n'y avait aucune restriction concernant la langue ou la date de publication.

Critères de sélection

Nous avons inclus des essais contrôlés randomisés (ECR) d'interventions visant à aider les personnes présentant des ulcères veineux de jambe à adhérer aux traitements de contention par rapport aux soins habituels, ou à l'absence d'intervention, ou à une autre intervention active. Nos critères de jugement principaux étaient le nombre de personnes dont les ulcères avaient cicatrisé, la récidive, le temps jusqu' à cicatrisation complète, la qualité de vie, la douleur, l'observance du traitement compressif et le nombre de personnes avec des événements indésirables.

Recueil et analyse des données

Deux auteurs de la revue ont indépendamment sélectionné les études à inclure, extrait les données, évalué le risque de biais de chaque essai inclus et évalué la qualité globale des preuves pour les principaux critères de jugement dans des tableaux «Résumé des résultats».

Résultats principaux

Des preuves de faible qualité issues d'un essai (67 participants) indiquent , en comparaison avec les soins à domicile, qu'une consultation communautaire, Leg Club®, fournissant des méthodes pour s'entraider , une aide pour fixer des objectifs et de l'interaction sociale n'a pas entraîné de meilleurs taux de guérison à trois mois (12/28 des personnes ont cicatrisé dans le groupe de consultation Leg Club versus 7/28 dans le groupe de soins à domicile; risque relatif (RR)1,71; intervalle de confiance (IC) à 95% 0,79 à 3,71); ni à six mois (15/33 ont cicatrisé dans le groupe Leg Club versus 10/34 dans le groupe de soins à domicile; RR 1,55, IC à 95% 0,81 à 2,93); ni ne résultait en une amélioration de la qualité de vie à six mois (DM de 0,85 points, IC à 95% ‐0,13 à 1,83; échelle de 0 à 10 points). Cependant, le Leg Club entraînait une réduction statistiquement significative de la douleur à six mois (DM ‐12.75 points, IC à 95% ‐24.79, ‐0,71; échelle de 0 à 100), bien que cela n'a pas été considéré comme une différence cliniquement importante. Le temps jusqu' à cicatrisation complète, la récurrence des ulcères, l'observance et les événements indésirables n'étaient pas rapportés.

Des preuves de faible qualité issues d'un autre essai (184 participants) indiquent que, par rapport aux soins habituels dans une consultation spécialisée dans le traitement des plaies, un programme d'auto‐prise en charge communautaire conduit par une infirmière d'une durée de six mois, encourageant l'activité physique (la marche et les exercices de la jambe) et l'adhésion au traitement compressif par le conseil et la modification comportementale (Lively Legs®) peut ne pas entraîner de meilleurs taux de guérison à 18 mois (51/92 ont cicatrisé dans le groupe Lively Legs® versus 41/92 dans le groupe de soins habituels; RR de 1,24 (IC à 95% 0,93 à 1,67)); peut ne pas entraîner une réduction du taux de récurrence des ulcères veineux de jambe à 18 mois (32/69 ont eu une récurrence dans le groupe Lively Legs versus 38/67 dans le groupe de soins habituels; RR 0,82 (IC à 95% 0,59 à 1,14)); et peut ne pas entraîner une meilleure adhésion au traitement compressif à 18 mois (42/92 personnes totalement adhérentes dans le groupe Lively Legs versus 41/92 dans le groupe de soins habituels; RR de 1,02 (IC à 95% 0,74 à 1,41)). Le temps jusqu' à cicatrisation complète, la qualité de vie, la douleur et les événements indésirables n'étaient pas rapportés. Nous n'avons trouvé aucune étude examinant d'autres interventions visant à promouvoir l'observance au traitement compressif.

Conclusions des auteurs

Il existe un manque d'essais d'interventions visant à promouvoir l'observance au traitement compressif pour les ulcères veineux. Des preuves de faible qualité issues de deux essais ont été identifiées: l'un encourageant l'observance par la socialisation et le soutien (Leg Club®), et l'autre encourageant l'observance de la compression, les exercices de la jambe et la marche par le conseil et la modification comportementale (Lively Legs®).Ces essais n'ont pas mis en évidence un bénéfice des consultations communautaires par rapport aux soins habituels en termes de taux de guérison, de prévention de la récurrence des ulcères veineux de jambe ou de la qualité de vie. Un essai a montré un petite, mais possiblement peu importante sur le plan clinique, réduction de la douleur, alors que les événements indésirables n'étaient pas rapportés. Le petit nombre de participants peut avoir caché un réel bénéfice, ou une augmentation des effets indésirables. En raison, à l'heure actuelle, de l'absence de preuves fiables, il n'est pas possible ni de recommander ni de déconseiller les interventions de soins en lieux de soins animés par des infirmières par rapport à des soins ordinaires.

PICO

Population
Intervention
Comparison
Outcome

El uso y la enseñanza del modelo PICO están muy extendidos en el ámbito de la atención sanitaria basada en la evidencia para formular preguntas y estrategias de búsqueda y para caracterizar estudios o metanálisis clínicos. PICO son las siglas en inglés de cuatro posibles componentes de una pregunta de investigación: paciente, población o problema; intervención; comparación; desenlace (outcome).

Para saber más sobre el uso del modelo PICO, puede consultar el Manual Cochrane.

Résumé simplifié

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Les interventions pour aider les personnes à adhérer aux bandages de contention pour favoriser la cicatrisation des ulcères veineux de jambe

Les ulcères veineux de jambe ‐ prennent des semaines ou des mois à guérir, provoquent beaucoup de peine, et sont très coûteux pour les services de santé. Bien que la compression, au moyen de bandages ou de bas de contention, favorise la guérison et prévient la récidive, de nombreuses personnes n'observent pas le traitement par compression. Par conséquent, les interventions visant à promouvoir le port d'une contention devraient améliorer la cicatrisation, et prévenir la récurrence des ulcères veineux.

Nous avons trouvé deux études portant sur des preuves de faible qualité, de sorte que d'autres études pourraient modifier les résultats de cette revue.

Le Leg Club®, une consultation communautaire, n'améliore peut‐être pas la cicatrisation des ulcères veineux de jambe ou la qualité de vie plus que ne le font des soins infirmiers à domicile , mais il entraîne probablement moins de douleur après six mois. Dix sept personnes supplémentaires sur 100 ont été guéries après avoir participé à un Leg Club (46/100 des personnes en Leg Club ont cicatrisé par rapport à 29/100 des personnes recevant des soins habituels à domicile). Les participants au Leg Club ont évalué leur qualité de vie à 0,85 points de plus que ceux recevant des soins à domicile, évaluée sur une échelle de 10 points. Les participants au Leg Club ont évalué leur douleur au bout de six mois à 12.75 points de moins que le groupe de soins à domicile, évaluée sur une échelle de 100 points. Cet essai n'a pas documenté si les consultations Leg Club amélioraient l'observance de la compression, le temps de cicatrisation, ou la prévention de la récidive plus que les soins à domicile.

Il est possible que Lively Legs®, un programme d'auto‐prise en charge communautaire, n'améliore pas significativement plus la cicatrisation des ulcères ni ne diminue leur récurrence après 18 mois que ne le font les soins habituels délivrés dans une consultation spécialisée dans le traitement des plaies. Dix personnes supplémentaires sur 100 ont été guéries au bout de 18 mois après leur participation à Lively Legs (55/100 des participants à Lively Legs ont guéri versus 45/100 des personnes recevant des soins habituels). Dix personnes en moins sur 100 ont eu une récidive de l'ulcère de jambe 18 mois après leur participation à Lively Legs (47/100 des participants à Lively Legs ont récidivé en comparaison des 57/100 personnes recevant des soins habituels). Le même nombre de personnes ont observé le traitement compressif après avoir participé à Lively Legs (45/100 participants dans les deux groupes). L'essai n'a pas indiqué si le programme d'auto‐prise en charge des consultations Lively Legs améliorait le temps de cicatrisation des ulcères, réduisait la douleur ou améliorait la qualité de vie plus que les soins habituels d'une consultation spécialisée dans le traitement des plaies.

Nous n'avons trouvé aucune étude examinant d'autres interventions potentielles, comme des programmes éducatifs. Nous savons que le traitement compressif est efficace mais nous ne savons pas quelles sont les interventions qui en améliorent l'observance.

Authors' conclusions

Implications for practice

The conclusions we can draw in our systematic review are limited by the quality and number of trials that met our inclusion criteria. The trials we identified were susceptible to bias, and hampered by inadequate reporting and small sample sizes, which may have hidden real benefits. There is a lack of studies that report on interventions that improve adherence to compression therapy. This absence of reliable evidence means that, at present, it is not possible either to recommend or discourage nurse‐led clinic care interventions over standard care (home care or outpatient clinic) in terms of increasing adherence to compression bandaging.

Implications for research

Further high quality research is required before definitive conclusions can be made about the benefits of community‐based clinics incorporating multi‐faceted interventions designed to promote adherence to compression therapy, and ultimately improved healing in people with venous leg ulcers.

To achieve benefits from current compression therapies we need further innovation in treatment methods and a better understanding of strategies to improve adherence to intervention. This needs to be tested within clinical trials. Future trials should clearly report baseline participant characteristics (i.e. wound size and duration) and include participants who do not adhere to compression at baseline to reflect the variability in adherence in this population. Trialists could consider including a lower level of compression bandaging as one intervention in order to assess whether this improves adherence and, potentially, healing (Weller 2012). Trials should report relevant outcomes, such as healing and recurrence, as well as possible reasons for non‐adherence from the participant's perspective. Future trials should conform to the CONSORT 2010 recommendations (CONSORT 2010) with sufficient power to detect a true treatment effect.

Summary of findings

Open in table viewer
Summary of findings for the main comparison. Leg Club compared to nurse home visits

Leg Club compared to nurse home visits

Patient or population: people with venous leg ulcers
Settings: community
Intervention: Leg Club
Comparison: nurse home visits

Outcomes

Illustrative comparative risks* (95% CI)

Relative effect
(95% CI)

No of Participants
(studies)

Quality of the evidence
(GRADE)

Comments

Assumed risk

Corresponding risk

Leg Club

Number of people healed
Follow‐up: 6 months

294 per 1000

456 per 1000
(238 to 862)

RR 1.55
(0.81 to 2.93)

67
(1 study)

⊕⊕⊝⊝
low1,2

Not statistically different

Recurrence of ulcers ‐ not measured

See comment

See comment

Not estimable

See comment

Recurrence was probably measured but not reported

Time to healing ‐ not measured

See comment

See comment

Not estimable

See comment

Time to healing was probably measured but was not reported

Adverse events ‐ not measured

See comment

See comment

Not estimable

See comment

Not measured.

Quality of life
Spitzer's quality of life index. Scale from 0‐10.
Follow‐up: 6 months

The mean quality of life score in the control group was 8.11

The mean quality of life score in the intervention groups was
0.85 higher
(0.13 lower to 1.83 higher)

52
(1 study)

⊕⊕⊝⊝
low1,2

Not statistically different

Adherence to compression ‐ not measured

See comment

See comment

Not estimable

See comment

Adherence to compression was not measured

Pain
Medical Outcomes Study Pain Measures. Scale from: 0 to 100.
Follow‐up: 6 months

The mean pain score in the control group was
34.29

The mean pain in the intervention groups was
12.75 lower
(24.79 to 0.71 lower)

60
(1 study)

⊕⊕⊝⊝
low1,2

*The basis for the assumed risk (e.g. the median control group risk across studies) is provided in footnotes. The corresponding risk (and its 95% confidence interval) is based on the assumed risk in the comparison group and the relative effect of the intervention (and its 95% CI).
CI: confidence interval; RR: risk ratio

GRADE Working Group grades of evidence
High quality: further research is very unlikely to change our confidence in the estimate of effect.
Moderate quality: further research is likely to have an important impact on our confidence in the estimate of effect and may change the estimate.
Low quality: further research is very likely to have an important impact on our confidence in the estimate of effect and is likely to change the estimate.
Very low quality: we are very uncertain about the estimate.

1 Trialists failed to conceal allocation and may have performed an unplanned interim data analysis
2 Low number of participants, some imprecision likely

Open in table viewer
Summary of findings 2. Lively Legs programme versus outpatient wound clinic

Lively Legs programme versus outpatient wound clinic

Patient or population: people with venous leg ulcers
Settings: community
Intervention: Lively Legs programme

Comparison: outpatient wound clinic

Outcomes

Illustrative comparative risks* (95% CI)

Relative effect
(95% CI)

No of Participants
(studies)

Quality of the evidence
(GRADE)

Comments

Assumed risk

Corresponding risk

Control

Lively Legs programme versus outpatient wound clinic

Time to healing ‐ not reported

See comment

See comment

Not estimable

See comment

Data not reported for extraction

Number of people healed
Follow‐up: 18 months

45 per 100

55 per 100
(41 to 74)

RR 1.24
(0.93 to 1.67)

184
(1 study)

⊕⊕⊝⊝
low1,2

Not statistically different

Adverse events ‐ not measured

See comment

See comment

Not estimable

See comment

Adverse events were not reported, unclear if measured

Recurrence of ulcers
Follow‐up: 18 months

57 per 100

47 per 100
(33 to 65)

RR 0.82
(0.59 to 1.14)

136
(1 study)

⊕⊕⊝⊝
low1,2

Not statistically different

Quality of life ‐ not measured

See comment

See comment

Not estimable

See comment

Not measured

Adherence to compression
Follow‐up: 18 months

45 per 100

45 per 100
(31 to 66)

RR 1.02
(0.74 to 1.41)

184
(1 study)

⊕⊕⊝⊝
low1,2

Not statistically different

Pain ‐ not measured

See comment

See comment

Not estimable

See comment

Not measured

*The basis for the assumed risk (e.g. the median control group risk across studies) is provided in footnotes. The corresponding risk (and its 95% confidence interval) is based on the assumed risk in the comparison group and the relative effect of the intervention (and its 95% CI).
CI: confidence interval; RR: risk ratio

GRADE Working Group grades of evidence
High quality: further research is very unlikely to change our confidence in the estimate of effect.
Moderate quality: further research is likely to have an important impact on our confidence in the estimate of effect and may change the estimate.
Low quality: further research is very likely to have an important impact on our confidence in the estimate of effect and is likely to change the estimate.
Very low quality: we are very uncertain about the estimate.

1 Trialists failed to report randomisation method and allocation concealment
2 Low number of participants and 95% confidence interval includes both no effect and appreciable benefit

Background

Description of the condition

Venous leg ulceration represents the most prevalent form of difficult to heal wounds, and these problematic wounds require a significant amount of health care resources for their treatment. Typically, venous leg ulceration is a chronic, relapsing condition (de Araujo 2003). The most common cause of venous leg ulceration is venous insufficiency, which accounts for nearly 80% of all ulcers. People with chronic venous insufficiency are prone to development of venous leg ulcers on the ankles and legs. A venous leg ulcer can be defined as 'an open sore in the skin of the lower leg due to high pressure of the blood in the leg veins' (British Association of Dermatologists 2010). By definition, chronic venous ulcers are defects in the skin ‐ usually below the knee ‐ that have been present for more than four to six weeks (Walker 2002). Ulcers of long duration and greater size are known to be markers of a poor prognosis (Margolis 2004). They are typically painful and heal slowly, resulting in an impaired quality of life, social isolation and reduced work productivity (Persoon 2004; Vowden 2009).

Venous leg ulcers are the most common cause of lower limb ulceration in the western world, with prevalence estimated to be 1% in the adult population, and has been reported to be as high as 3% in adults aged 65 and over (Donnelly 2009), with a higher incidence in women than men (ratio 1.25:1) (Henke 2010; Margolis 2002). Some prevalence estimates have been as high as 4.3% (Baker 1991; Margolis 2002; Moffatt 2007; Stacey 2001; Vowden 2009). These variations can probably be explained by the different survey and sampling methods used (e.g. whether only those people whose ulcers are known to health services are identified, and whether case validation is employed).There are several underlying pathologies associated with leg ulceration, including venous, arterial and rheumatoid disease, and ulcers may occur in the presence of one, or a combination, of underlying conditions (Baker 1992; Henke 2010).

This review will focus on venous leg ulcers that occur when damage to the deep, or superficial veins, or both (e.g. from a thrombosis) result in a high ambulatory venous pressure; the communicating veins between the superficial veins may also be incompetent. The high venous pressure is thought to cause leakage in the associated capillaries, with the resultant deposition of red blood cells and other protein molecules that cause fibrosis and staining of the subcutaneous tissue and skin, which leads to relative ischaemia (lack of oxygen), poor nutrition of the surrounding tissues, and breakdown of the skin.

Despite improvements in treatments for venous ulcers and the widespread introduction of compression bandaging as the mainstay of current conservative management, a significant proportion of venous leg ulcers remain unhealed or recur after a period of time. At least 28% of these people will experience more than ten episodes of ulceration in their lifetimes, with recurrence rates estimated at between 45% and 87%, with up to 20% of leg ulcers being active at any point in time (Abbade 2005; Nelson 2006; Vowden 2006). Reasons for variable healing and recurrence rates are multifactorial. Early diagnosis and treatment are important, although patient adherence to compression treatment is also an important factor, not just for healing but also for preventing recurrence.

Current treatments for venous ulcers

Venous leg ulcers that have been present for a prolonged period of time pose a substantial management challenge for clinicians (Simon 2004). Treatments that are used to heal and prevent recurrence of venous ulcers include compression, local wound care, surgery, physical therapy, systemic (whole body) drug treatments and attendance at community clinics for leg ulcer care. Management guidelines have identified compression therapy as the cornerstone in the treatment of venous leg ulcers (Cullum 2001; Nelson 2012; O'Meara 2012), and, in view of the high rate of recurrence, compression hosiery is also current standard practice for the prevention of recurrence (Nelson 2012).

We know from previous Cochrane reviews that compression increases ulcer healing rates when compared with no compression (O'Meara 2012); that adherence to high levels of compression after healing reduces the rate of recurrence (Nelson 2012); that multi‐component systems are more effective than single‐component systems, and that multi‐component systems containing an elastic bandage are more effective than those containing mainly inelastic bandages (O'Meara 2012). Compression acts by reducing the abnormally high pressure seen in the superficial veins, and reduces lower limb swelling and oedema.

The efficacy of compression therapy depends mainly upon exerted pressure and stiffness of the bandage (Partsch 2006). Lowest recurrence rates are reported in people who are treated with the highest degree of compression, and it is recommended that people wear the highest level of compression that is comfortable (Nelson 2012); but it is also reported that many patients cannot tolerate, or do not adhere to, compression bandaging therapy (Bale 2003).

Adherence can be defined as the extent to which patients follow the instructions they are given for treatments (Haynes 2008). The term, adherence, is intended to be non‐judgemental, a statement of fact rather than of blame attributable to the patient, prescriber, or compression treatment. Adherence rates are influenced by people's beliefs about how worthwhile the treatment is (Jull 2004). There is a need for better understanding of the methods that might improve adherence to inform clinical practice, and to improve healing rates and reduce recurrence of venous ulcers.

Description of the intervention

Educational interventions, support group interventions, nursing and medical interventions, multidisciplinary interventions and healthcare system interventions, either alone, or in combination may improve adherence. Community models of care, which include 'leg clubs', offer a setting where people with similar problems can socialise in a supportive, information‐sharing environment (Brooks 2004; Edwards 2005a). Leg clubs provide a room or space for social activities and refreshments, and separate areas where wound care is provided at 'dressing stations' where participants are still able to communicate with each other. Healthcare system interventions such as educational programs that may include a combination of cognitive, behavioural or affective components, or both, may also improve adherence to compression therapy (Van Hecke 2008; Van Hecke 2009). Specific interventions may comprise verbal instruction, written instruction, or both, as well as counselling about the patient's underlying disease, the importance of compression therapy and adherence to therapy.

Another model, 'Lively Legs' provides counselling sessions in an outpatient setting. The programme provides evaluation of patient lifestyle and heath beliefs; identification of barriers and facilitators for behaviour change; and education materials. The aim of the programme is to encourage behaviour change to promote adherence to exercise and compression treatment (Heinen 2012).

How the intervention might work

There is little evidence from randomised controlled trials (RCTs) about adherence rates to compression therapy, or patients' views. There is some suggestion that nursing interventions result in the patient 'more consciously following advice', including performing exercise and wearing compression; it is assumed that adherence to the gold‐standard of compression treatment results in improved healing (Van Hecke 2011). Another study indicates that patients do not adhere to compression due to pain, discomfort and lack of valid lifestyle advice (Van Hecke 2009). Interventions designed to increase adherence to wearing compression should improve healing and recurrence rates for people with chronic venous ulcers.

Why it is important to do this review

Chronic venous ulcer healing remains a complex clinical situation and often requires the intervention of skilled, but costly, multidisciplinary wound care teams. Recurrence is often an ongoing issue for people who experience venous ulcers. If the gold‐standard of treatment (compression) is adhered to, we believe that healing rates will improve. It would be useful to know which interventions help people adhere to compression treatments to heal ulcers and to prevent recurrence.

Objectives

To assess the benefits and harms of interventions designed to help people adhere to venous leg ulcer compression therapy, and thus improve healing of venous leg ulcers and prevent recurrence of leg ulcers after healing.

Methods

Criteria for considering studies for this review

Types of studies

Randomised controlled trials (RCTs), or cluster‐randomised controlled trials (cluster‐RCTs) of interventions designed to improve adherence with compression therapies.

Types of participants

Adults (as defined in trials) undergoing treatment for venous leg ulceration or prevention of recurrence of venous leg ulcers.

Types of interventions

We included studies that assessed interventions designed to help people adhere to compression treatments for venous leg ulceration and prevention of recurrence. The study had to state that the aim of the intervention was to increase adherence to compression for the study to be eligible (regardless of whether adherence was reported as an outcome). We searched for any type of intervention including educational interventions, support group interventions, nursing and medical interventions, multidisciplinary interventions and healthcare system interventions either alone or in combination aimed at people with venous leg ulcers.

All possible comparison interventions were eligible for inclusion. These included sham or control intervention, usual care or no intervention, one intervention compared with another, or single interventions compared with complex interventions. We excluded trials designed to assess knowledge of caregivers, topical dressings used as adjunct to compression and trials of compression bandages only, as these are topics of other reviews.

Types of outcome measures

We included outcomes at all time points.

Primary outcomes

Since adherence to compression treatment should result in more rapid healing of venous ulcers and a reduced rate of recurrence, the primary outcomes considered for this review were:

  • venous ulcer healing (e.g. proportion of ulcers healed within trial period, as defined by the trial authors);

  • time to complete healing;

  • recurrence of venous ulcer (as reported in the trials);

  • adherence to compression therapy, e.g. proportion reporting adherence to compression.

Secondary outcomes

Secondary outcomes considered for this review included:

  • quality of Life (QoL);

  • adverse events;

  • pain;

  • economic outcomes.

Search methods for identification of studies

Electronic searches

In May 2013 we searched the following electronic databases to find reports of relevant RCTs:

  • The Cochrane Wounds Group Specialised Register (searched 16 May 2013);

  • The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library 2013, Issue 4);

  • Ovid MEDLINE (1950 to  May Week 2 2013);

  • Ovid MEDLINE (In‐Process & Other Non‐Indexed Citations, May 15, 2013);

  • Ovid EMBASE (1980 to 2013 Week 19);

  • EBSCO CINAHL (1982 to 2 May 2013).

We used the following search strategy in the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL):

#1 MeSH descriptor: [Patient Compliance] explode all trees 7652
#2 (compliance or adherence or concordance):ti,ab,kw 20268
#3 MeSH descriptor: [Patient Education as Topic] explode all trees 5797
#4 "patient education":ti,ab,kw 6631
#5 MeSH descriptor: [Community Health Nursing] explode all trees 357
#6 community next health next nurs*:ti,ab,kw 398
#7 community next nurs*:ti,ab,kw 144
#8 MeSH descriptor: [Community Health Centers] explode all trees 435
#9 (community next clinic*) or (community next health next cent*) or (primary next care next clinic*):ti,ab,kw 1050
#10 (multidisciplinary near/3 wound*):ti,ab,kw 6
#11 MeSH descriptor: [Nurse Practitioners] explode all trees 275
#12 (practice next nurse*) or (nurse next practitioner*):ti,ab,kw 939
#13 MeSH descriptor: [Social Support] explode all trees 2025
#14 "social support":ti,ab,kw 2812
#15 MeSH descriptor: [Self‐Help Groups] explode all trees 575
#16 (self next help next group*) or (support next group*) or (leg next club*):ti,ab,kw 1335
#17 #1 or #2 or #3 or #4 or #5 or #6 or #7 or #8 or #9 or #10 or #11 or #12 or #13 or #14 or #15 or #16 30622
#18 MeSH descriptor: [Leg Ulcer] explode all trees 1076
#19 (varicose next ulcer*) or (venous next ulcer*) or (leg next ulcer*) or (foot next ulcer*) or (stasis next ulcer*) or ((lower next extremit*) near/2 ulcer*) or (crural next ulcer*) or "ulcus cruris":ti,ab,kw 2135
#20 #18 or #19 2289
#21 #17 and #20 140

The search strategies for Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid EMBASE and EBSCO CINAHL can be found in Appendix 1. The Ovid MEDLINE search was combined with the Cochrane Highly Sensitive Search Strategy for identifying randomised trials in MEDLINE: sensitivity‐ and precision maximizing version (2008 revision) (Lefebvre 2011). The Ovid EMBASE and Ovid CINAHL searches were combined with the trial filters developed by the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN 2008). There were no restrictions with respect to language, date of publication or study setting.

We also searched the following Trial Search Registries:

Searching other resources

The bibliographies of all studies eligible for inclusion identified by the above strategies were searched for further studies not identified through searches of electronic databases.

Data collection and analysis

Selection of studies

Two review authors (CW, RJ) independently assessed the titles and available abstracts of all studies identified by the initial search, excluded any clearly irrelevant studies, and assessed full copies of reports of potentially eligible studies using the inclusion criteria. The authors resolved disagreements regarding inclusion by consensus.

Data extraction and management

Two review authors (CW, RJ) independently extracted data from the included trials on source of funding, study population, interventions, analyses and outcomes, using standardised data extraction forms. We contacted trial authors, as required, to obtain more information.

In order to assess efficacy, we extracted raw data for outcomes of interest (means and standard deviations for continuous outcomes, number of events for dichotomous outcomes, and hazard ratio and 95% confidence intervals for time‐to‐event data) where available in the published reports. We also recorded wherever reported data were converted or imputed in the notes section of the Characteristics of included studies table.

Assessment of risk of bias in included studies

Two review authors independently assessed the risk of bias of each included trial against key criteria recommended by the Cochrane Collaboration (Higgins 2011), namely:

  • random sequence generation;

  • allocation concealment;

  • blinding of participants, personnel and outcome assessors;

  • incomplete outcome data;

  • selective outcome reporting; and

  • other sources of bias (such as whether groups were similar at baseline for important prognostic indicators, such as wound size and severity, and duration of ulcer; and whether co‐interventions were avoided, or similar, within the treatment and control groups).

We judged each of these criteria as low risk of bias, high risk of bias, or unclear (due to either a lack of information or uncertainty over the potential for bias), and also gave an overall impression of the risk of bias for the entire study, based on the judgement that an unclear or high risk of bias for one or more key criteria weakens our confidence in the estimate of effect (Higgins 2011). This meant that if any of the above criteria were rated as having a high or unclear risk of bias individually, we assigned the trial a high risk of bias overall. We assigned a trial a low risk of bias overall only if all of the above criteria were judged to be at low risk of bias individually.

Review authors resolved disagreements by consensus, and consulted a third review author to resolve disagreements, if necessary.

Measures of treatment effect

The results of the included studies were plotted as point estimates, that is, relative risks (RR) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) for dichotomous outcomes, and mean difference (MD) and 95% CI for continuous outcomes. We planned to extract hazard ratio (HR) data for time to healing, but this was not reported by any study.

Unit of analysis issues

For trials presenting outcomes at multiple time points, we extracted data at all time points (three months, six months, 12 months, 18 months), as subgroups.

Dealing with missing data

If data were missing from the trial reports, we contacted trial authors to try to obtain the relevant information.

We used number randomised as the denominator for dichotomous outcomes that assessed a benefit (healing, adherence), on the assumption that any participants missing at the end of treatment did not have a positive outcome (e.g. for healing, we would have assumed that missing participants did not have a healed ulcer). We used number available at follow‐up as the denominator for dichotomous outcomes that assessed a harm, and data as available to analyse continuous outcomes.

Assessment of heterogeneity

We had planned to assess statistical heterogeneity by Q test (chi‐square) and I2 and to interpret a chi‐square test resulting in a p‐value <0.10 as indicating significant statistical heterogeneity. In order to assess and quantify the possible magnitude of inconsistency (i.e. heterogeneity) across studies, we had planned to use the I2 statistic with a rough guide for interpretation as follows: 0% to 40% might not be important; 30% to 60% may represent moderate heterogeneity; 50% to 90% may represent substantial heterogeneity; 75% to 100% considerable heterogeneity and likely unsuitable for meta‐analysis (Deeks 2011). The two included trials reported different interventions, comparators and outcomes, so statistical heterogeneity was not assessed.

Assessment of reporting biases

We had planned to assess publication bias by constructing funnel plots if at least 10 studies are available for the meta analysis of a primary outcome, but this was not possible, as we had too few included studies.

Data synthesis

Outcomes were presented in forest plots. For clinically homogeneous studies, with similar participants, comparators, and using the same outcome measure, we had planned to pool outcomes in a meta‐analysis. We planned to use a fixed‐effect model for meta‐analysis, but in the presence of heterogeneity that may be important (I2 of 40% or more) we would have used a random effects model as a sensitivity analysis to see if the conclusions differ, and present the results from the random effects model. For time‐to‐event data, estimates of hazard ratio (HR) and 95% CI if presented in the trial reports, would have been converted into the log rank observed minus expected events and variance of the log rank, and these estimates would be pooled using a fixed effect model (as only a fixed‐effect model is available in RevMan for this analysis) (Deeks 2011). However, meta‐analysis was precluded because the two trials reported different interventions, comparators and outcomes.

Subgroup analysis and investigation of heterogeneity

If there were sufficient data (e.g. stratified data presented in the trials), we planned to perform separate subgroup analyses to determine whether healing is influenced by the following factors:

  • severity of ulcers at baseline determined by size (>5cm 2 or ≤5cm 2)) or ulcer duration (>6months or ≤ 6 months) at baseline;

  • different geographical locations/settings (rural versus urban);

  • community versus home care; and

  • specialist multidisciplinary clinic versus nurse led clinic

We anticipated that trials may have presented outcomes by baseline severity and duration of ulcers. The other analyses may have come from data from separate trials. We had planned to informally compare the magnitudes of effect to assess possible differences in response to treatment between the two groups. The magnitude of the effects can be compared between the subgroups by assessing the overlap of the confidence intervals. Non‐overlap of the confidence intervals indicates statistical significance (Deeks 2011).

As there were insufficient data, we did not perform our planned subgroup analyses.

Sensitivity analysis

We had planned sensitivity analyses to investigate the robustness of the treatment effect to allocation concealment by removing the trials that did not report adequate allocation concealment (i.e. inadequate or unclear) from the meta‐analysis to see if this changed the overall treatment effect. Then we had planned using the same method to assess the effect of excluding trials with unblinded or unclear outcome assessment.

We had also planned sensitivity analysis to investigate the effect of imputation of missing data, but as we did not impute any data, the analysis was not done.

We had insufficient data for these analyses.

Presentation of results

The main results of the review were presented in 'Summary of findings' tables which provide key information concerning the quality of evidence, the magnitude of effect of the interventions examined, and the sum of the available data on the main outcomes, as recommended by the Cochrane Collaboration (Schunemann 2011a), using GRADEpro software. We used the five GRADE considerations (study limitations, consistency of effect, imprecision, indirectness and publication bias) to assess the quality of evidence Schunemann 2011b.

After the protocol was published, we decided to include the following outcomes in the 'Summary of findings' tables: number of people with ulcers healed, recurrence of ulcers, time to complete healing, quality of life, pain, adherence to compression, and number of people with adverse events. Quality of life was reported using two different instruments; we decided to present only the data measured using the more widely accepted measure (SF12).

Results

Description of studies

See: Characteristics of included studies; Characteristics of excluded studies

Results of the search

A search of the Cochrane Wounds Group Specialised Register, CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CINAHL yielded 322 titles and abstracts. A handsearch found two additional records through other sources (Figure 1). After initial review, we excluded 296 because they were either not RCTs, involved another patient population (e.g. diabetic foot ulcers) or did not evaluate interventions to help adherence to compression therapy. After screening of titles and abstracts, we selected 28 trial reports for full text assessment, and excluded 26.


Study flow diagram of the number of records identified, included and excluded, and the reasons for exclusions

Study flow diagram of the number of records identified, included and excluded, and the reasons for exclusions

Included studies

Two studies, Edwards 2009 and Heinen 2012, met the review inclusion criteria (see Characteristics of included studies).

Edwards 2009 reported a single‐centred parallel RCT (67 participants) that evaluated the effectiveness of standard wound care (consisting of health assessment and referral as indicated, venous ulcer treatment based 'protocols', advice and support, follow‐up management and preventive care) in a community clinic called 'Leg Club' (34 participants) compared with the same wound care in the home by a nurse (33 participants), conducted in Queensland, Australia. Three published interim analyses of this trial were identified (Edwards 2005a; Edwards 2005b; Edwards 2005c).

Heinen 2012 reported a multi‐centred randomised controlled trial (184 participants) investigating the effectiveness of a community‐based exercise and behaviour modification programme called 'Lively Legs' for promoting adherence with ambulant compression therapy and physical exercise (92 participants), plus usual care (wound care, compression bandages at an outpatient clinic) compared with 'usual care' alone (92 participants), conducted in 11 outpatient dermatology clinics in the Netherlands.

Participants

The majority of participants included in Edwards 2009 (90%) were over 60 years old. Men made up 54% of the study sample, and 60% required some form of aid to mobilise. Intervention and control groups did not differ significantly for presence of co‐morbidities such as cardiovascular disease, osteoarthritis and history of varicose veins, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and previous venous surgery. The average ulcer size area was reported to be 7.5 cm2 (1.0 cm2 to 140.0 cm2) and the median duration of ulcer was reported as being 22 weeks (four to 180 weeks).

The mean age of participants included in Heinen 2012 was 66 years (27 to 91 years). Women made up 60% of the study sample. Intervention and control groups did not differ significantly for presence of varicosities, diabetes and claudication (pain after walking a short distance). The intervention group included a higher number of participants with hypertension (43% versus 30%) and smoking (22% versus 15%). The control group included a higher number of participants with previous DVT (40% versus 27%), heart failure (23% versus 17%) and arthritis/arthrosis (27% versus 20%).The average ulcer size in the intervention group was reported to be 9 cm2 (0.2 cm2 to 180 cm2) and the mean duration was reported to be seven months (0.3 to 54 months). The average ulcer size in the control group was reported to be 8.4 cm2 (0.4 cm2 to 130 cm2) and the mean duration was reported to be 7.3 months (0.8 to 54 months).

Interventions

The Edwards 2009 trial's Leg Club settings consisted of a room or space for social activities and refreshments, and separate areas where wound care was provided at 'dressing stations' where participants were still able to communicate with each other. Both the Leg Club and control groups received nursing care for up to six months consisting of: comprehensive assessment including Ankle Brachial Pressure Index (ABPI); referral for further circulatory assessment as indicated; venous ulcer treatment based on research protocols; advice and support about venous leg ulcers; and follow‐up management and preventive care. These five care items were delivered weekly by community nurses to the intervention group at a Leg Club where participants had opportunities for peer‐support, assistance with goal setting and social interaction, and delivered during individual home visits by community nurses to participants in the control group. Although not stated explicitly in this trial report, Leg Clubs have been established to improve adherence to compression therapy by providing holistic care for patients in a supportive environment (Lindsay 2001).

In the Heinen 2012 trial, the 'Lively Legs programme' intervention group received the following interventions in addition to the usual care delivered in the control group: Lively Legs counselling sessions (up to six) that included evaluation of patient lifestyle; health education related to patient heath beliefs; motivation for increasing exercise; other barriers and facilitators for behaviour change; and goal setting on one or more lifestyle topics. The outpatient clinic was the setting for Lively Legs counselling, the session time varied from 45 to 60 minutes for the first session to 20 to 30 minutes for subsequent sessions. Where possible an informal caretaker was present at each session.

Outcomes

Edwards 2009 reported outcomes at baseline, 12 and 24 weeks. We included the following outcomes in this review: proportion of participants with ulcers healed, pain and quality of life. Edwards 2009 also reported economic outcomes on a subset of 56 participants (out of a total of 67) (Gordon 2006), but as the authors did not report the effect estimate used in the analysis clearly, we were unable to extract and verify the cost‐effectiveness estimates.

Heinen 2012 reported outcomes at baseline, six months, 12 months and 18 months. We included the following outcomes in this review: the number of people healed, the number of people with recurrence, the number of people adherent to compression therapy.

Excluded studies

We excluded 26 studies, as they were not RCTs (11 studies), they did not include interventions to help people with venous leg ulcers adhere to compression therapy (14 studies) , or did not include people with venous leg ulcers (one study) (Characteristics of excluded studies).

Risk of bias in included studies

Overall, the risk of bias in Edwards 2009 was high. The authors used a random number program to generate the random sequence, but did not report whether allocation was concealed, therefore, it is unclear whether selection bias was avoided. Performance bias was likely, due to the difficulty of blinding participants and investigators. Outcome assessors were probably not blinded to treatment, which may have impacted on measurement of the self‐reported outcomes pain, and quality of life. However, complete healing, as defined by the trial authors ('full epithelialisation lasting for two weeks'), and presumably assessed by the community nurse, seemed objective, and less susceptible to detection bias (Figure 2).


Risk of bias summary: review authors' judgements about each risk of bias item for each included study.

Risk of bias summary: review authors' judgements about each risk of bias item for each included study.

Although the proportion of participants lost to follow‐up was quite high (23% from the intervention group, 21% from the control group), there was balance across the groups, and the reasons for losses were similar in both groups, and apparently unrelated to the interventions (hospitalisations or death from medical co morbidities; or moved away), this was unlikely to bias the effect estimates in favour of either group and so attrition bias was unlikely.

The study was probably subject to reporting bias, as the pilot study reported that ulcer recurrence, and new ulcers were measured Edwards 2005a, but these data were not reported in the trial results; furthermore, the instrument used to assess pain was changed during the course of the trial. In addition, the authors described exclusion criteria inconsistently across separate reports of the same cohort.

It was unclear whether Edwards 2009 was free from other bias because the trialists used sequential estimation rather than sample size calculation prior to recruitment. Sequential estimation is used when the sample size is not fixed in advance. Instead, data are evaluated as they are collected, and further sampling is stopped in accordance with a pre‐defined stopping rule as soon as significant results are observed. Consequently, the researchers could have checked results during the trial and stopped recruiting when they achieved a statistically significant result.

The risk of bias was also high in Heinen 2012. It was unclear whether selection bias was avoided, as the method of randomisation or allocation to treatment was not clearly described. Performance bias was likely, as participants and investigators were probably aware of the intervention group. Detection bias was unlikely for assessment of objective outcomes (healing and recurrence), but was possible in the assessment of the self‐reported outcome (adherence). Attrition bias was possibly avoided, as the losses to follow‐up were even across treatment groups (see Figure 2). Reporting bias was likely, due to the failure of the authors to report outcomes as they measured them, but other types of bias were avoided.

Effects of interventions

See: Summary of findings for the main comparison Leg Club compared to nurse home visits; Summary of findings 2 Lively Legs programme versus outpatient wound clinic

Meta‐analysis of outcomes was precluded due to differences in interventions. Although both interventions were community‐based nurse‐led clinics, Leg Club® emphasised socialisation, peer‐support and patient‐empowerment, while Lively Legs promoted exercise adherence and behaviour modification as part of the complex intervention.

Wound care in a community‐based socialisation and peer‐support clinic (Leg Club®) compared with wound care at home by nurse visits (one trial)

One trial (67 participants) reported a statistically significant improvement in pain and quality of life in favour of Leg Club® , and no difference in healing rates between the two treatment groups (Edwards 2009). However, our analysis was unable to substantiate any between‐group differences in quality of life as outlined below.

Number of people healed

The proportion of participants healed at three months was higher in the Leg Club group (12/28, 43%) than in the home visit group (7/28, 25%), but this difference was not statistically different (relative risk (RR) 1.71, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 0.79 to 3.71; Analysis 1.1). The proportion of participants healed at six months was also not significantly different between treatment groups (Leg Club: 15/33 (45%), home visit group 10/34 (29%), RR 1.55, 95% CI 0.81 to 2.93; Analysis 1.1). The larger denominator at six months was from the completed study; the three month outcome data were from an interim analysis (Edwards 2005b).

Time to complete healing

Outcome not reported.

Recurrence of venous ulcer

No report on recurrence rates or follow‐up once healing occurred.

Adherence to compression therapy

Outcome not reported.

Quality of life

Quality of life measured by the 10‐point Spitzer's index tended to be higher in the Leg Club group (mean 8.96 points, standard deviation (SD) 1.43) compared with the home visit group (mean 8.11, SD 2.1) but this was not statistically different on our analysis (MD 0.85 points on 10 point scale, 95% CI ‐0.13 to 1.83; Analysis 1.2). Edwards 2009 however reported this was statistically different using a 'triangular test of difference between means' with a P value of 0.014.

Adverse events

Outcome not reported.

Pain

The Edwards 2009 trial used two different outcome measurement tools to assess pain. At 12 weeks the trialists measured pain with the RAND instrument, a 36‐item heath survey, and at 24 weeks with the Medical Outcomes Study pain measure, a 100‐point continuous scale. We extracted the 24‐week data, and found that pain intensity significantly decreased in the participants attending the Leg Club compared with home visit care (MD ‐12.75 points on 100 point scale, 95% CI ‐24.79 to ‐0.71; Analysis 1.3)

Economic outcomes

Edwards 2009 reported economic outcomes on a subset of 56 participants (out of a total of 67) (Gordon 2006). The incremental cost per healed ulcer to the service provider, carers, clients and community of the Leg Club was reported as AUD 515 at six months (the cost of usual care was estimated as AUD 1546). However, the paper did not report the effect estimate used in the analysis clearly (we found no statistically significant difference in the number of people healed (Analysis 1.1)), and thus, we were unable to verify the cost‐effectiveness estimates.

Community‐based exercise and behaviour modification clinic (Lively Legs®) plus usual care compared with usual care alone (one trial)

One trial with 184 participants compared community‐based exercise and behaviour modification (Lively Legs) plus usual care (wound care, compression bandages at an outpatient clinic) with usual care alone (Heinen 2012).

Number of people healed

At 18 months there was no statistically significant difference in the number of people healed between treatment groups, 51/92 healed in Lively Legs group versus 41/92 in usual care group (RR 1.24, 95% CI 0.93 to 1.67; Analysis 2.1)

Time to complete healing

Outcome not reported.

Recurrence of venous ulcer

At 18 months there was no statistically significant difference in the number of people with recurrent ulcers between treatment groups, 32/69 with recurrence in Lively Legs group versus 38/67 in usual care group (RR 0.82, 95% CI 0.59 to 1.14; Analysis 2.2).

Adherence to compression therapy

Adherence with compression therapy, as assessed via 6‐item questionnaire, and scored as a categorical scale: fully adherent (wore stocking always, all day); semi‐adherent (wore stocking sometimes); non‐adherence (occasionally wore stocking‐ but this not clearly defined, or did not wear stocking). We extracted the proportion fully adherent (wore stocking always, all day). We found no statistically significant difference in the number people who fully adhered to compression therapy at 6 months (47/92 in Lively Legs versus 35/92 in outpatient clinic; RR 1.34, 95% CI (0.97, 1.87)); 12 months (45/92 Lively Legs versus 42/92 outpatient clinic; RR 1.07, 95% CI 0.79 to 1.45)); and 18 months (42/92 Lively Legs versus 41/92 outpatient clinic; RR 1.02, 95% CI 0.74 to 1.41)) (Analysis 2.3). The review authors’ estimated measures of effect for adherence were extrapolated from percentage values presented in the trial report (raw data not available), assuming that the denominators were patients as randomised.

Quality of life

Outcome not reported.

Adverse events

Outcome not reported.

Pain

Outcome not reported.

Economic outcomes

Outcome not reported.

Discussion

Summary of main results

Low quality evidence from one trial indicates that a community‐based nursing clinic emphasising socialisation and peer‐support (Leg Club) may not improve healing rates, or quality of life, any more than home‐based visits for people with venous leg ulcers, but it may produce a small ‐ though clinically insignificant ‐ reduction in pain. The trial did not report recurrence, time to healing, adverse events, or adherence to compression therapy (summary of findings Table for the main comparison).

Low quality evidence from another trial indicates that a community‐based nurse counselling and behaviour modification and exercise program (Lively Legs) may not improve healing rates, recurrence and adherence to compression any more than attendance at an outpatient wound clinic. This trial did not report time to healing, adverse events, quality of life, or pain (summary of findings Table 2).

We found no studies that assessed other interventions that aim to improve adherence to compression therapy, such as healthcare system or educational interventions.

Overall completeness and applicability of evidence

There was limited evidence available to assess the benefits of community‐based nursing models of care (Leg Club and Lively Legs) and no evidence to support or refute other interventions that aim to improve adherence to compression therapy such as healthcare and educational programs.

We identified only two small trials of community‐based nurse‐led interventions that aimed to help people adhere to compression therapy. One trial of peer‐support (Leg Club), based in Australia, was based on a UK program that may be transferable to other healthcare systems internationally. However, Edwards 2009 paid research staff to administer interventions, and volunteer drivers to collect and transport participants to and from the venue, which raises some questions about generalisability to usual practice settings. The stated aim of this program was primarily to improve quality of life and psychological well being (Lindsay 2001) (although we could not demonstrate a difference in quality of life between groups in our analysis), and whether this leads to improved adherence ‐ and therefore improved healing rates and reduced recurrence ‐ is not supported by the available evidence.

The Lively Legs programme was developed in the Netherlands and is a community‐based 'coaching' intervention to support adherence to compression. This programme was also nurse‐led, but nurses were trained in psychological techniques to tailor their coaching to assess adherence, motivation, goal‐setting and relapse prevention. The Lively Legs programme also has potential to be used internationally, not withstanding the caveats required for training and cost.

The completeness of the evidence was hampered by failure of trials to report important outcomes. Time to healing and adverse events were not reported in either trial; recurrence and adherence were not reported in the Leg Club trial (Edwards 2009); and quality of life and pain were not reported in the Lively Legs trial (Heinen 2012).

Quality of the evidence

There was only low quality evidence available from two trials that assessed the use of community‐based interventions (67 participants and 184 participants). The evidence was downgraded because of the potential for selection bias and the low number of participants, which leads to uncertainties concerning the effect estimates of the main outcomes (summary of findings Table for the main comparison; summary of findings Table 2). Further studies are likely to change these results, but we do not know in which direction. We suspect that the small number of trials identified is likely to be indicative of a lack of research in the area, rather than to publication bias.

Potential biases in the review process

We are confident that the broad literature search used in this review has captured most of the relevant literature, and minimised the likelihood that we have missed any relevant trials. Two review authors independently selected trials, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias, in order to minimise bias.

Despite extensive searching, it is possible that we missed some trials that met our criteria. The literature on patient adherence to compression is not well indexed because the number of studies is quite small, while, in trials, adherence to compression is not often reported and it is unclear whether it is measured. We invite readers to notify us of any studies, published or unpublished, that meet our criteria.

Agreements and disagreements with other studies or reviews

This is the first review of randomised studies that address this question, as far as we are aware. Earlier non‐randomised studies indicated that an educational intervention (Brooks 2004), and a community‐based nursing clinic emphasising socialisation and peer‐support (Leg Club) (Lindsay 2001), may increase adherence to compression, but do not report whether this leads to increased healing rates and decreased recurrence.

Reviews clearly show that compression therapy is the mainstay treatment for healing venous ulcers (Cullum 2001; Nelson 2012; O'Meara 2012). The benefits from such treatments diminish according to the degree of non‐adherence to the treatment (Sackett 1996; Van Hecke 2008). Despite the development of new compression bandage device systems and substantial evidence from RCTs in the past two decades (O'Meara 2012), there is a paucity of evidence investigating non‐adherence and effectiveness of strategies to help patients increase adherence.

Study flow diagram of the number of records identified, included and excluded, and the reasons for exclusions
Figuras y tablas -
Figure 1

Study flow diagram of the number of records identified, included and excluded, and the reasons for exclusions

Risk of bias summary: review authors' judgements about each risk of bias item for each included study.
Figuras y tablas -
Figure 2

Risk of bias summary: review authors' judgements about each risk of bias item for each included study.

Comparison 1 Leg Club versus nurse home visits, Outcome 1 Number of people healed.
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 1.1

Comparison 1 Leg Club versus nurse home visits, Outcome 1 Number of people healed.

Comparison 1 Leg Club versus nurse home visits, Outcome 2 Quality of life (Spitzer's quality of life index, 0‐10).
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 1.2

Comparison 1 Leg Club versus nurse home visits, Outcome 2 Quality of life (Spitzer's quality of life index, 0‐10).

Comparison 1 Leg Club versus nurse home visits, Outcome 3 Pain at 6 months (0 to 100 scale).
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 1.3

Comparison 1 Leg Club versus nurse home visits, Outcome 3 Pain at 6 months (0 to 100 scale).

Comparison 2 Lively Legs programme versus outpatient wound clinic, Outcome 1 Number of people healed.
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 2.1

Comparison 2 Lively Legs programme versus outpatient wound clinic, Outcome 1 Number of people healed.

Comparison 2 Lively Legs programme versus outpatient wound clinic, Outcome 2 Proportion with recurrence.
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 2.2

Comparison 2 Lively Legs programme versus outpatient wound clinic, Outcome 2 Proportion with recurrence.

Comparison 2 Lively Legs programme versus outpatient wound clinic, Outcome 3 Proportion fully adherent to compression.
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 2.3

Comparison 2 Lively Legs programme versus outpatient wound clinic, Outcome 3 Proportion fully adherent to compression.

Summary of findings for the main comparison. Leg Club compared to nurse home visits

Leg Club compared to nurse home visits

Patient or population: people with venous leg ulcers
Settings: community
Intervention: Leg Club
Comparison: nurse home visits

Outcomes

Illustrative comparative risks* (95% CI)

Relative effect
(95% CI)

No of Participants
(studies)

Quality of the evidence
(GRADE)

Comments

Assumed risk

Corresponding risk

Leg Club

Number of people healed
Follow‐up: 6 months

294 per 1000

456 per 1000
(238 to 862)

RR 1.55
(0.81 to 2.93)

67
(1 study)

⊕⊕⊝⊝
low1,2

Not statistically different

Recurrence of ulcers ‐ not measured

See comment

See comment

Not estimable

See comment

Recurrence was probably measured but not reported

Time to healing ‐ not measured

See comment

See comment

Not estimable

See comment

Time to healing was probably measured but was not reported

Adverse events ‐ not measured

See comment

See comment

Not estimable

See comment

Not measured.

Quality of life
Spitzer's quality of life index. Scale from 0‐10.
Follow‐up: 6 months

The mean quality of life score in the control group was 8.11

The mean quality of life score in the intervention groups was
0.85 higher
(0.13 lower to 1.83 higher)

52
(1 study)

⊕⊕⊝⊝
low1,2

Not statistically different

Adherence to compression ‐ not measured

See comment

See comment

Not estimable

See comment

Adherence to compression was not measured

Pain
Medical Outcomes Study Pain Measures. Scale from: 0 to 100.
Follow‐up: 6 months

The mean pain score in the control group was
34.29

The mean pain in the intervention groups was
12.75 lower
(24.79 to 0.71 lower)

60
(1 study)

⊕⊕⊝⊝
low1,2

*The basis for the assumed risk (e.g. the median control group risk across studies) is provided in footnotes. The corresponding risk (and its 95% confidence interval) is based on the assumed risk in the comparison group and the relative effect of the intervention (and its 95% CI).
CI: confidence interval; RR: risk ratio

GRADE Working Group grades of evidence
High quality: further research is very unlikely to change our confidence in the estimate of effect.
Moderate quality: further research is likely to have an important impact on our confidence in the estimate of effect and may change the estimate.
Low quality: further research is very likely to have an important impact on our confidence in the estimate of effect and is likely to change the estimate.
Very low quality: we are very uncertain about the estimate.

1 Trialists failed to conceal allocation and may have performed an unplanned interim data analysis
2 Low number of participants, some imprecision likely

Figuras y tablas -
Summary of findings for the main comparison. Leg Club compared to nurse home visits
Summary of findings 2. Lively Legs programme versus outpatient wound clinic

Lively Legs programme versus outpatient wound clinic

Patient or population: people with venous leg ulcers
Settings: community
Intervention: Lively Legs programme

Comparison: outpatient wound clinic

Outcomes

Illustrative comparative risks* (95% CI)

Relative effect
(95% CI)

No of Participants
(studies)

Quality of the evidence
(GRADE)

Comments

Assumed risk

Corresponding risk

Control

Lively Legs programme versus outpatient wound clinic

Time to healing ‐ not reported

See comment

See comment

Not estimable

See comment

Data not reported for extraction

Number of people healed
Follow‐up: 18 months

45 per 100

55 per 100
(41 to 74)

RR 1.24
(0.93 to 1.67)

184
(1 study)

⊕⊕⊝⊝
low1,2

Not statistically different

Adverse events ‐ not measured

See comment

See comment

Not estimable

See comment

Adverse events were not reported, unclear if measured

Recurrence of ulcers
Follow‐up: 18 months

57 per 100

47 per 100
(33 to 65)

RR 0.82
(0.59 to 1.14)

136
(1 study)

⊕⊕⊝⊝
low1,2

Not statistically different

Quality of life ‐ not measured

See comment

See comment

Not estimable

See comment

Not measured

Adherence to compression
Follow‐up: 18 months

45 per 100

45 per 100
(31 to 66)

RR 1.02
(0.74 to 1.41)

184
(1 study)

⊕⊕⊝⊝
low1,2

Not statistically different

Pain ‐ not measured

See comment

See comment

Not estimable

See comment

Not measured

*The basis for the assumed risk (e.g. the median control group risk across studies) is provided in footnotes. The corresponding risk (and its 95% confidence interval) is based on the assumed risk in the comparison group and the relative effect of the intervention (and its 95% CI).
CI: confidence interval; RR: risk ratio

GRADE Working Group grades of evidence
High quality: further research is very unlikely to change our confidence in the estimate of effect.
Moderate quality: further research is likely to have an important impact on our confidence in the estimate of effect and may change the estimate.
Low quality: further research is very likely to have an important impact on our confidence in the estimate of effect and is likely to change the estimate.
Very low quality: we are very uncertain about the estimate.

1 Trialists failed to report randomisation method and allocation concealment
2 Low number of participants and 95% confidence interval includes both no effect and appreciable benefit

Figuras y tablas -
Summary of findings 2. Lively Legs programme versus outpatient wound clinic
Comparison 1. Leg Club versus nurse home visits

Outcome or subgroup title

No. of studies

No. of participants

Statistical method

Effect size

1 Number of people healed Show forest plot

1

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)

Totals not selected

1.1 3 months

1

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)

0.0 [0.0, 0.0]

1.2 6 months

1

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)

0.0 [0.0, 0.0]

2 Quality of life (Spitzer's quality of life index, 0‐10) Show forest plot

1

Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)

Totals not selected

3 Pain at 6 months (0 to 100 scale) Show forest plot

1

Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)

Totals not selected

Figuras y tablas -
Comparison 1. Leg Club versus nurse home visits
Comparison 2. Lively Legs programme versus outpatient wound clinic

Outcome or subgroup title

No. of studies

No. of participants

Statistical method

Effect size

1 Number of people healed Show forest plot

1

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)

Totals not selected

2 Proportion with recurrence Show forest plot

1

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)

Totals not selected

3 Proportion fully adherent to compression Show forest plot

1

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)

Totals not selected

3.1 6 months

1

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)

0.0 [0.0, 0.0]

3.2 12 months

1

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)

0.0 [0.0, 0.0]

3.3 18 months

1

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)

0.0 [0.0, 0.0]

Figuras y tablas -
Comparison 2. Lively Legs programme versus outpatient wound clinic