How to Educate Patients for Improved Adherence to Compression Therapy

Compression therapy is the gold standard for treating stasis dermatitis and venous ulcers resulting from chronic venous insufficiency. It is also an essential component of non-surgical management for lymphedema, together with manual lymphatic drainage, decongestive exercises, and skin care. However, recurrence is common due to poor patient adherence or compliance. Patients with chronic medical conditions often find compression therapy uncomfortable and restrictive in daily life, making it difficult to maintain consistent use. The author introduces a structured educational protocol to improve compression therapy adherence in patients who struggle with consistent application. Key components of this protocol include: enhancing health literacy through tailored bedside education, practical bandage application training based on a demonstration-observation-performance-feedback model adapted from clinical student education, and most importantly, caregiver-centric education and skills training to support patients in coping with physical limitations in self-application. This approach enabled patients and their caregivers to effectively use elastic compression bandaging to improve their symptoms, promoting sustained use after discharge.