Leg Club Resources

The growing prevalence of venous leg ulcers in an ageing population presents challenges for wound care and management (McIntyre et al, 2021). Many people with leg ulcers are elderly, poor and alone, and experience reduced quality of life.

A leg ulcer can be defined as a break in a person’s skin which becomes chronic in nature and takes longer than two weeks to heal (NHS UK, 2019). Evidence outlined by The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) states that the prevalence of leg ulcers in the United Kingdom is around one percent over a lifetime, which still describes a large number of people (NICE 2022; Lim et al, 2018). The prevalence of leg ulcers continues to rise and a shift in lifestyle factors, including smoking and obesity, have contributed to this (Agale, 2013). Further risk factors for developing leg ulcers include immobility, advancing age, a history of varicose veins or deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and having a sedentary lifestyle (Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network [SIGN], 2010; Lim et al, 2018). The challenge of caring for these chronic wounds often falls to staff in primary care. Therefore, they should have a good understanding of leg ulcers and how best to treat them. In the author’s opinion, Leg Clubs® provide an ideal opportunity to manage lower limb wounds, while also tackling the wider holistic issues of leg ulcers, such as social isolation and loneliness.

Data from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE, 2020) estimates that 1.5 percent of the adult population have a leg ulcer. To help combat this healthcare crisis, it is essential for stakeholders in lower limb care to collaborate both to raise awareness of leg ulcer prevalence and achieve better outcomes for those suffering with lower limb conditions.

The total estimated cost of managing wounds in the UK is reported to be more than £5 billion per year, with a great deal of that cost coming from nursing time (Guest et al, 2015). Patients with lower leg wounds should receive an ankle brachial pressure index (ABPI) before compression therapy (Wounds UK, 2019). Measuring ABPI using the traditional Doppler probe, however, can be unreliable, time-consuming and can only be carried out by practitioners with specialist training and knowledge (Al-Qaisi et al, 2009). Waiting times for appointments can also delay treatment. Automated ABPI assessments are speedy, accurate and do not require specialist nurses, thus freeing up nursing time and lowering costs, as well as reducing waiting and assessment times (Boast et al, 2019). This article assesses the introduction of the MESI ABPI (medi UK) automated device at a Leg Club in North East Essex. The challenges faced by the Leg Club are discussed, along with the benefits seen over a two-month period after acquiring the automated ABPI device.

Patient experiences with wound care treatment are being recognised as central to prudent care. Leg Clubs provide community-based treatment, education and ongoing health promotion and care for people with leg-related problems. This article considers the growing evidence of patients’ experiences of being treated in a Leg Club setting. Six participants from a Leg Club setting were interviewed via a semi-structured interview, and interviews were transcribed verbatim and investigated for themes using interpretative phenomenological analysis in accordance to Smith et al (2009). An overarching theme, the holistic approach to treatment, was identified, with two subthemes: Leg Club education and a sense of autonomy and trust in Leg Club staff. This study revealed the importance of a holistic approach to treatment within a Leg Club setting, and adds to, and complements, the body of evidence.

Ellie Lindsay discusses the need for community nurses to address the research-practice gap and incorporate evidence based findings into their daily work.
Ellie Lindsay BSc (Hons), RN, DN, CPT, Dip HE is a Independent Specialist Practitioner and Associate Lecturer CRICP, Thames Valley University, London; Ellie also is a Visiting Fellow, Queensland University of Technology, Australia. Article accepted for publication: June 2005
Leg Club® the wording and logo are protected by Registered Trade Mark in the UK and Australia. If you require further information about the Lindsay Leg Club model, please visit the website at www.legclub.org or email Ellie Lindsay at ellie@legclub.org.