Repercussions of sickle cell disease and sickle cell ulcers for men inserted in the world of work.
Dayse Carvalho do Nascimento, Gleysson Coutinho Santos, Samira Silva Santos Soares and 5 others
PMID 37130427WHAT IT FOUND
Men with sickle cell leg ulcers said staff often dismissed their pain and wound needs, so some avoided emergency care.
They relied on nurse teaching, family, prayer and self-care to keep working.
Key findings
01Men said health staff, especially in emergency care, often lacked sickle cell ulcer knowledge, discredited their pain, and focused on medication rather than the wound, so some avoided emergency care.
02Nurse guidance on sickle cell ulcer care was described by participants as enabling work strategies such as dressing during breaks, elevating the legs, and continuing to work.
03Men described keeping working despite pain, wound odor, tiredness and treatment costs by hiding symptoms, self-managing dressings and analgesics, relying on family or mothers, and praying.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The authors state the results should not be generalized because participants were limited to a restricted context and may differ from other regions of Brazil. The study included 20 men from two clinics in Rio de Janeiro, so the themes reflect local care and work circumstances. Participants had to be men of working age who developed a sickle cell ulcer while working, and men with cognitive deficits or permanent work limitations were excluded. The study reports experiences and coping themes, not measured effects on pain, ulcer healing or job retention.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that nurse teaching, family support or prayer improve ulcer healing or work retention. These are participants' reported coping strategies in a qualitative study, not tested effects.