Caracterização das pessoas com úlcera venosa no Brasil e Portugal: estudo comparativo.

Objective: To compare the socio-demographic aspects, of health, care and clinic of people with venous ulcer (VU) in Brazil and Portugal. Method: Analytical comparative and transversal study with a quantitative approach. The sample was composed by 130 persons with UV assisted in Natal/Brazil and Évora/Portugal in the period between June and October of 2011, through a structured interview form and collection of bio-physiological measures. Results: Significant differences between the two countries were verified, regarding the age, family income, profession/occupation, time of lesion shorter than 6 months, small lesion area, ulcer with granulation, availability of proper products, place for treatment, access to medics, Doppler examination and documentation of clinical sate. Conclusion: The researched in Portugal were elder, with better income; the number of patients with a profession/occupation was lower than the researched users in Brazil and presented lesions with more favourable characteristics to the scar healing process. The researched assistance to users with VU in Portugal has presented to be significantly better than the one performed in Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]