Experiences of complete decongestive therapy for patients with lower limb lymphedema: A descriptive phenomenological study

Abstract

Background

Lower limb lymphedema can cause significant physical and psychological distress. Complete decongestive therapy is recognized as the gold standard for non-surgical management of this condition. However, the lived experiences of patients undergoing complete decongestive therapy have been largely overlooked in existing research.

Objectives

To explore the experiences of individuals with lower limb lymphedema undergoing complete decongestive therapy.

Methods

A total of 18 eligible participants with lower limb lymphedema, aged 39–72 years, were recruited through purposive sampling from a hospital in China. One-on-one in-depth interviews were conducted to collect qualitative data. Nvivo12.0 was used for data encoding and management, and Colaizzi's descriptive analysis framework was employed for data interpretation.

Results

Four major themes and thirteen subthemes were generated from the data analysis: (a) Physical discomfort, (b) Increased confidence, (c) Emotional distress, and (d) Need for support.

Conclusion

People undergoing complete decongestive therapy for lower limb lymphedema experience complex physical, emotional, and psychological challenges. Interventions to enhance the complete decongestive therapy experience should focus on five key areas: health education, psychological support, advancements in medical devices, the establishment of consultation platforms, and addressing self-care difficulties among individuals living alone.