Elena Merchand is a certified wound care nurse (WCC) and is Diabetic Wound Certified (DWC), currently providing her expertise at DermaRite Industries LLC, a manufacturer of Advanced Wound Care Dressings and cost effective personal care and skin care products.

1. The Emotional Impact
of Pressure Ulcers
By: Elena Merchand

2. Pressure Ulcers can impact an
individual’s life in many different ways.
Apart from experiencing a great amount
of pain, the quality of life (QoL) for an
individual with a pressure ulcer (PU) can
be depleted immensely depending on
how their QoL is defined, which will
vary from person to person.

3. What Are Pressure Ulcers?

4. Pressure Ulcers can impact an
individual’s life in many different
ways. Apart from experiencing a
great amount of pain, the quality
of life (QoL) for an individual
with a pressure ulcer (PU) can be
depleted immensely depending on
how their QoL is defined, which
will vary from person to person.

5. Though QoL is a vague
term, individuals with a
PU will incorporate
pain, financial costs,
personal resources, and
how the PU affects
one’s daily activities in
order to describe their
overall QoL.

6. According to an article published in
Wounds Research Journal, author
Diane K. Langemo describes the
emotional impact of having a PU in
depth and detail. Langemo notes,
“Overall QoL encompasses 4 primary
domains of well-being and
functioning. The domains include
physical and occupational,
psychosocial, social, and
somatic,” (Quality of Life and Pressure
Ulcers: What is the Impact?).

7. She goes on to describe the overall
impact that wounds can have on an
individual, stating that “having a
wound implies imperfection, which
certainly impacts physical and
emotional vulnerability,” (Quality of
Life and Pressure Ulcers: What is the
Impact?) thus, implying that having a
wound can lead to extensive emotional
pain and trauma, making an individual’s
perception of their quality of life quite
poor.

8. Later on in the article,
Langemo goes on to explain
that most individuals who
have pressure ulcers view
their wound as a way of life,
accentuating how difficult is it
to acquire patience and to
deal with being immobile
throughout the healing
process.

9. Living with a PU is usually
associated with social isolation,
negative body image, and
financial deficits from health
care bills that collectively create
a negative emotional impact on
individuals. Langemo describes
an eight subject qualitative
study that focused on these
negative emotions, saying.

10. Subjects reported that being
alone in their rooms much of the
time had significant negative
impact on their lives. One male
subject noted, “I love working
and being with people. I am a
people person. Don’t keep me
isolated or I’d die.” One subject
who lived 4 hours from the
hospital particularly expressed
missing contact with family…

11. While the HRQoL effects related to a variety of ulcers are documented, research
focused on the impact on individuals with PUs is limited, and further research is
necessary,” (Quality of Life and Pressure Ulcers: What is the Impact?). Until that
research has been recognized and improved upon, it is important to understand the
emotional impact that pressure ulcers have on individuals and focus on how we can
improve their everyday quality of life.

12. One 52-year-old subject with
paraplegia noted, “I can
remember lying in the
hospital….looking at the paint on
the wall. And I could tell you
how many little bubbles were in
that particular spot. I memorized
them to keep from going
mad.” (Quality of Life and
Pressure Ulcers: What is the
Impact?)

13. Individuals with PUs often note that
their wounds control their lives,
from the literal aspects of living
(sleeping in a special bed, clothing
limitations, fatigue) to underlying
pessimistic emotions (poor body
image, depression, embarrassment).
Langemo concludes her article,
saying “Health-related QoL is
impacted physically, psychologically,
emotionally, spiritually, socially, and
financially.