The care process of diabetic foot ulcer patients: a qualitative study in Iran

Abstract

BackgroundThe Purpose of this study is to clarify the care process for Iranian diabetic patients with diabetic foot ulcer condition.MethodsThe main question of this research was “How is the care process for diabetic foot ulcer patients and how do patients experience it?” This study was within the Grounded Theory method. Data collection was carried out until data saturation was achieved. Saturation was achieved after interviewing 11 patients, 4 physicians, one head nurse and one nurse.ResultsThree main themes emerged from this study, including: “disease management, disease experience and continuity of care”. Each of these themes is consisted of different sub-themes.ConclusionsThis is the first study to describe the care process in Iranian diabetic patients with diabetic foot ulcer disease. Knowing patients’ experience and the manner of dealing with them once faced with foot ulcer condition could facilitate a comprehensive decision making by therapists and better recovery of diabetic patients.

Perceptions and experiences of diabetic foot ulceration and foot care in people with diabetes: A qualitative meta‐synthesis

“…Three additional papers were identified from the reference lists of included papers. Overall, 42 articles reporting the findings of 35 qualitative studies were selected for inclusion (Figure ).…”

“…Participants' beliefs regarding DFU causation often conflicted with conventional medical understanding of this condition. Many were unaware, or had limited knowledge, of the role diabetes plays in DFU aetiology, irrespective of their ulceration status . Some only received a diagnosis of diabetes on presenting with an ulcer, while others did not become aware of the relationship between diabetes and foot problems until seeking treatment for ulceration .…”

Barriers and enablers to proper diabetic foot care amongst community dwellers in an Asian population: a qualitative study

“…Furthermore, although there still remains insufficient information regarding factors which affect proper foot care within the current literature, the majority of data that does exist focusses on patient experiences from patient interviews (15)(16)(17). There are only few studies which have taken into consideration observations by healthcare professionals (18,19) of patient beliefs and practices in the form of qualitative data. As such, obtaining this data from a multi-disciplinary group of healthcare professionals could contribute usefully to our understanding of the problem.…”

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“…Diabetic foot ulcers, amputation, neuropathy, peripheral vasculopathy, and retinopathy are among serious complications of diabetes. Ahmed et al [35] Figure 1: The relationship between experience, awareness, attitude, disease management, and ulcer modified from reference [33] Figure 2: The relationship between continuity of care, disease management, and patient experiences have summarized the prevalence of diabetic foot problems in Arab countries based on available statistics which need more updating. In this investigation, collected data which highlights the demographic prevalence of diabetes, diabetic foot problems, approaches of treatment, foot care products, and role of diabetic foot centers from a total of 750 questionnaires were received and analyzed.…”

“…In this regard, it has been reported that being aware of patients' knowledge about this condition and its treatment process may act as an aid in the prevention and the treatment of this disease. [31,32] Aliasgharpour and Nayer [33] has concluded that self-management of DFS is influenced by patients' experience, awareness, and attitudes [ Figure 1]. On the other hand, to attain wound healing and thus circumventing amputation, correct disease management, patient's knowledge, and continuity of care have to interplay [ Figure 2].…”