Informal Family Caregiving of Patients with Diabetic Extremity Wounds: An Integrative Review

Abstract

Annually, 26 million people worldwide develop diabetic extremity wounds, adversely impacting the lives of patients and their family caregivers, who provide vital health assistance to these patients. This integrative review synthesized scientific literature of informal caregiving experiences for patients with diabetic extremity wounds. Five databases were searched for relevant English-language quantitative or qualitative research; ten studies were included in the final analysis. The caregiving experience included disrupted routines, frustration, guilt, poor health care communication, helplessness, and anxiety. Increased caregiver burden and decreased quality of life were associated with higher patient amputation level, worsening wound appearance and patient pain, poor health care communication, lack of social support and/or caregiving help, and lack of caregiver employment outside the home. Future research opportunities include further exploration of caregiver tasks and priorities, caregiving experiences in settings lacking family support structures and equitable health system access, and relationships between the caregiver experience and patient health system utilization.

Progress in Pluronic F127 Derivatives for Application in Wound Healing and Repair

“…Every year, hundreds of millions of people experience wounds of different etiologies. [1][2][3][4] Once a wound is formed, it is difficult to heal if the person is afflicted by an underlying disease such as diabetes, and can easily lead to other complications. Some wounds may not heal for months or years, which not only has a serious impact on patients' health, but also increases their financial burden.…”