# A patient journey mapping study of lived experiences during platelet-rich fibrin gel therapy for venous leg ulcers

## TL;DR

This study explores how patients experience platelet-rich fibrin gel therapy for venous leg ulcers, highlighting psychological and emotional aspects to improve patient-centered care.

## Contribution

The study introduces a patient journey map capturing the multidimensional experience of PRF therapy for venous leg ulcers.

## Key findings

- Patients experienced cognitive dissonance and hope before treatment, challenges during treatment, and biopsychosocial shifts afterward.
- PRF gel therapy was associated with improved wound healing and psychological wellbeing.
- A dynamic journey model was developed to guide patient-centered care strategies.

## Abstract

Active venous leg ulcers (VLUs), characterized by high recurrence and complexity of treatment, place patients under a dual physiological and psychological stress. Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) shows biological therapeutic potential, but current research predominantly focuses on its clinical efficacy through quantitative measures such as wound healing rates, leaving a significant gap in understanding the holistic therapeutic experience and multidimensional psychological-cognitive journey of patients undergoing this novel treatment. This gap limits the development of patient-centered care strategies that could optimize both biological and psychosocial outcomes.

This study aimed to identify key stages and touchpoints where patient needs, distress, and decision-making are most pronounced during PRF gel therapy, by employing patient journey mapping to visualize and analyze the holistic treatment experience. A descriptive phenomenology study using semi-structured interviews was conducted in 13 active VLU patients from June to December 2024. The data were analyzed using the seven-step Colaizzi method to identify themes and to construct a dynamic journey model that integrates cognition, experience, and emotions.

The analysis revealed four core themes: pre-treatment cognitive dissonance and hope; treatment-phase challenges; post-treatment biopsychosocial shifts; and dynamic anxiety-hope oscillation.

Patients reported that PRF gel therapy, within the context of comprehensive wound care, was associated with enhanced wound healing and improved psychological wellbeing. The proposed patient journey map translates these lived experiences into a structured framework, offering actionable insights for implementing patient-centered care and optimizing management strategies for refractory VLUs.

Clinically, this framework aids in identifying high-need phases of the treatment journey and provides a basis for tailoring patient education and support, ultimately helping to improve both clinical workflows and patient engagement in PRF-based wound management.