Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society (WOCN) Practice Exam

What compliance-related issue might arise with a half-shoe?

1. Patients may forget to wear it

2. Patients prefer using more protective footwear

3. Patients find it uncomfortable

4. Patients cannot reuse it

The correct answer is: Patients find it uncomfortable

The correct answer highlights that patients may find a half-shoe uncomfortable. In clinical practice, comfort is a critical factor influencing patient compliance with any prescribed treatment or device. If a half-shoe causes discomfort during use, patients may be less likely to wear it as instructed, which can hinder the effectiveness of the treatment for their condition. While other factors can certainly play a role in compliance, such as a patient's forgetfulness or a preference for standard footwear, discomfort is a direct and immediate barrier that would impact a patient's willingness to wear the device consistently. Additionally, the design of a half-shoe is often to provide protection and support in a specific area while allowing some degree of foot mobility, but if it does not achieve an adequate comfort level, patients might reject its use entirely. The other considerations—forgetting to wear the shoe, preferring more protective footwear, or concerns about reusability—represent important patient factors, but they do not address the immediate physical experience of wearing the half-shoe, which is central to long-term compliance and effective treatment outcomes.