Experiences of nurses within a nurse-led multidisciplinary approach in providing care for patients with diabetic foot ulcer

Abstract

Background and Aims: Diabetic foot ulcers require special attention due to their complex and chronic nature and special care and the Nurse-led approach has emerged in the current situation in response to the increasing need for health care as a way to treat chronic patients and provide them with ongoing care. Providing this specialized duty in nursing can be promoted and enhanced the professional independence of nurses and presents challenges. This study has been conducted to make an understanding of the nurses’ experiences about their participation in a nurse-led multidisciplinary team to providing care for patients with Diabetic Foot Ulcer. Methods: This was a qualitative, phenomenological research, carried out with the participation of 8 nurses of Shariaty Hospital of Tehran. Data collection was done through in-depth and semi structured interview. Dieklemann method was used for data analysis. Results: 2 themes and 4 categories emerged during data analysis: antecedents (background and nursing skills) and manifestation of multidisciplinary function (from despair to tranquility, professional worthiness, promotion of self-confidence, preference of multidisciplinary approach). Conclusion: The findings of this study, which were the lived experiences of the participants, indicated that most of them had experienced positive effect of nurse-led multidisciplinary team care, training and development, appropriate skill mix, quality and outcome of care. Therefore, despite working on a multidisciplinary team is complex and demanding, management attributions and communication strategies is well situated to meet the challenge.

Nurse-led family-based approach in primary health care for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a qualitative study

“…Despite the reported usefulness and effectiveness of nurse-led diabetes care (Guest et al, 2017 ), the literature also reported controversial views related to the acceptability of nurse-led care (Guest et al, 2017 ). A recent qualitative study experiences about a nurse-led multidisciplinary team of diabetic foot ulcer care highlighted the importance of a nurse-led interdisciplinary role within the multidisciplinary team (Nayeri et al, 2020 ). Favouring the multidisciplinary team was attributed to ensuring that complex wounds are adequately treated (Nayeri et al, 2020 ).…”

“…A recent qualitative study experiences about a nurse-led multidisciplinary team of diabetic foot ulcer care highlighted the importance of a nurse-led interdisciplinary role within the multidisciplinary team (Nayeri et al, 2020 ). Favouring the multidisciplinary team was attributed to ensuring that complex wounds are adequately treated (Nayeri et al, 2020 ). An international meta-analysis on the effect of nurse-led randomized control trials on cardiovascular risk factors and HbA1c in diabetes patients found that most nurse-led interventions were implemented with physicians mainly as supervisors (Daly et al, 2017 ).…”

“…A recent qualitative study assessed nurses’ experiences with a nurse-led multidisciplinary team diabetic foot ulcer care in Iran. It indicated that most nurses had experienced a positive effect of nurse-led multidisciplinary team care (Nayeri et al, 2020 ). Thus, the study suggested that policymakers should be aware of the impact of implementing nurse-led multidisciplinary teams on performance and quality of care (Nayeri et al, 2020 ).…”

Early intervention and care for Diabetic Foot Ulcers in Low and Middle Income Countries: Addressing challenges and exploring future strategies: A narrative review

“…To support the implementation of integrated foot care programs, it is essential to focus on training and capacity‐building for health care professionals. Providing specialized training to primary care physicians, nurses, and other health care providers in DFU management has been shown to improve their knowledge and skills in wound care, reducing the burden on specialized care 40 . LMICs can develop a strong workforce capable of addressing the growing DFU burden by improving the skills and expertize of health care professionals.…”

Self‐assessed foot health in older people with rheumatoid arthritis—A cross‐sectional study

“…The education could be provided through continuing training in the workplace (Beuscher et al, 2019) or by developing foot health-related courses for nursing education curricula. Caring for foot problems in older people with long-term health problems requires interprofessional collaboration (Nayeri et al, 2020), therefore nurses in older people care need also know when older individuals' foot problems need consultation from physician, podiatrist or orthotic specialist. The ultimate aim of the foot care is to maintain mobility among older individuals mobile and assure their independence in daily activities (James et al, 2021).…”