Reducing Health Inequities Through Improved Guidance and Assessment on the Early Identification of Skin Changes Associated With Chronic Venous Insufficiency in People With Dark Skin Tones

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to improve the assessment of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) specifically in people with dark skin tones. It focuses on defining better criteria for identifying skin changes linked to CVI and understanding patient experiences. The study is designed to inform future nurse-led interventions and clinical practices to reduce health inequities for this population. The study has two parts. The first involves semi-structured interviews with people with dark skin tones who have CVI, exploring their patient journeys and how they recognized skin changes to guide improved assessment techniques. The second part involves physical assessments, skin photography, and clinical evaluations of 15 patients with dark skin tones and known venous disease, including comparisons of standard and enhanced photography methods to better detect skin changes. Participants will be involved through interviews and clinical assessments, including self-reporting skin tone, ethnicity, age, and gender. They will undergo physical examination, answer questions about their symptoms, and participate in photography sessions. Researchers will collect data on clinical scores, patient and clinician experiences, and photograph skin changes. The study includes follow-up interviews shortly after assessments to gather feedback and monitor any adverse events.

Reducing Skin Tone Inequities in Chronic Venous Insufficiency