Introduction: A leg ulcer is a long-lasting (chronic) wound that occurs on the lower third of the leg. There are venous, neuropathic, arterial, and mixed leg ulcers. They are usually caused by chronic venous insufficiency, chronic inflammation, or diabetes. Regardless of the characteristics or type, a leg ulcer presents a great deal of psychological and physical strain from a person due to difficult and long-term healing, and a specific approach to its treatment. Purpose: In our thesis, we studied how a leg ulcer affects the mental health and self-image of the individual. Methods: We used a descriptive method with a literature review to research the impact of leg ulcers on individual’s self-esteem and the role of health care workers in this area. The literature search included Slovenian and English language sources and was conducted from December 2023 to April 2024. A total of 11 literature sources were included in the final analysis. We conducted a narrative literature review. We reviewed domestic and foreign scientific and professional literature. The literature was identified through the CINAHL, Scopus and MEDLINE (via PubMed) databases and with the help of remote access to the Digital Library of the University of Ljubljana (DiKUL) and the COBISS web bibliographic system. Results: The results of our review, with the exception of one study, show that the occurrence of a leg ulcer greatly limits people's overall quality of life, as it makes it difficult for them to have normal social contacts, negatively affects their mental health and represents an additional burden for their relatives. The size of the ulcer itself, the individual's abilities, and the people around them also play an important role. Discussion and conclusion: As healthcare professionals, we must recognize the individuals' distress and health problems and be able to address them adequately within our professional competences. It is also important to empower the individual with all the necessary information about his or her treatment, so that he or she feels involved in the treatment process. In view of our findings and the existing literature, there is a clear need to pay more attention to this topic in Slovenia and to encourage further research. In this way, we as healthcare professionals will expand our knowledge and competences, which will affect the quality of treatment for individuals with leg ulcers.
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