Ana D. Arrieta-Arellano, Instituto de Ciencias de la Salud, Área Académica de Enfermería, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo, Pachuca de Soto, Hgo., México
Mauricio Santes-Cuevas, Coordinación de Investigación de Enfermería, Hospital Juárez de México, Ciudad de México, México
María C. Velázquez-Núñez, Coordinación de Investigación de Enfermería, Hospital Juárez de México, Ciudad de México, México
Objective: To analyze the clinical evolution of patients with chronic wounds and to explore their self-care experiences and perceived barriers to home wound care. Method: A sequential explanatory mixed-methods study with a descriptive-exploratory scope was conducted in a specialized wound care clinic of a public tertiary-level hospital in Mexico. Census sampling was used in the quantitative component (n = 25); the qualitative component comprised four semi-structured interviews analyzed inductively. Results: Eighty percent of patients reached a favorable clinical status at least once with heterogeneous trajectories according to wound type. Venous ulcers showed prolonged, fluctuating courses; pressure ulcers exhibited earlier improvement with lower sustainability. Qualitative analysis identified six categories: variable self-care, caregiving burden, economic barriers, clinical uncertainty, functional impact, and facilitating factors. Conclusions: Chronic wound evolution is dynamic and multifactorial. The mixed-methods design enabled the articulation of clinical indicators with subjective caregiving experiences, offering a more comprehensive understanding than either method alone.
Keywords: Chronic wounds. Wound healing. Self-care. Caregivers. Nursing.