491 ISSN: 1676-4285 491 Dias TYAF, Costa IKF, Liberato SMD, Souza AJG, Mendes FRP, Torres GV. Quality of life for venous ulcer patients: a comparative study in Brazil/Portugal. Online braz j nurs [Internet]. 2013 Sept [cited year mouth day]; 12 (2): 491-500. Available from: http:// www.objnursing.uf.br/index.php/nursing/article/view/4344 Quality of life for venous ulcer patients: a comparative study in Brazil/Portugal Thalyne Yuri de Araújo Farias Dias 1 , Isabelle Katherinne Fernandes Costa 1 , Samilly Márjore Dantas Liberato 1 , Amanda Jéssica Gomes de Souza 1 , Felismina Rosa Parreira Mendes 2 , Gilson de Vasconcelos Torres 1 1 Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte 2 Higher School of Nursing at São João de Deus ABSTRACT Introduction: Venous ulcers are a public health problem that afect quality of life (QOL) and are determined by socioeconomic context, health assistance and lesion characteristics. Aim: To compare the QOL of patients sufering from venous ulcers in Natal/Brazil with patients in Evora/ Portugal. Method: Comparative and quantitative research involving 170 individuals sufering from venous ulcers, using the SF-36 instrument. Results: In Portugal, all dominion and dimension averages were higher than in Brazil, especially regarding social aspects (70.62). There were also a larger number of people with positive treatment characteristics. As for the lesion characteristics, these afected QOL dominions and dimensions in both countries. Discussion: The socioeconomic reality in Portugal is diferent from that in Brazil; the former has a larger variety and quantity of material resources available for lesion treatment. Conclusion: QOL in Portugal is better than in Brazil in terms of the aspects under consideration in this research. Descriptors: Nursing; Quality of Life; Varicose Ulcer