The Impact of Diabetic Foot Ulcer on Individuals' Lives and Daily Routine

Abstract

PURPOSE:The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) on individuals' lives and daily routines. DESIGN: Qualitative design informed by social constructivism and symbolic interactionism frameworks. SUBJECTS AND SETTING:The sample comprised 30 individuals attending a wound care clinic in Southeast Ontario, Canada. Most participants (n = 17) were between the ages of 65 and 92 years, were male (n = 20), married (n = 21), living with their family (n = 23), and had completed high school (n = 26). METHODS: One-to-one semistructured interviews were conducted by the first author until saturation of each emerging theme was achieved. Interviews were audio-recorded and lasted from 45 to 90 minutes. Data collection and analysis occurred simultaneously and included intensive semistructured interviews, field notes, and researcher's journal. RESULTS: Participants with DFUs were found to perceive a "sense of life change," impacting their lives across physical, psychological, and social spheres. They reported 4 key themes indicating that DFUs were (1) limiting their outings; (2) restricting leisure activities; (3) impacting personal and social life; and (4) contributing to emotional fluctuations. CONCLUSION: Sense of life changes resulting from DFUs were associated with participant reporting loss of freedom and enjoyment. These findings underscore the need for holistic support for patients with DFUs that simultaneously address physical, psychological, and social needs and areas of impact.

Psychological resilience mediates the relationship between diabetes distress and depression among persons with diabetes in a multi-group analysis

“…The presence of diabetes alongside depression can hinder treatment adherence, exacerbate physical and emotional distress, and increase the risk of cognitive impairments 8 – 14 . Managing diabetes demands substantial lifestyle adjustments, may affecting patients' daily routines 15 , 16 .…”

Cuidados de enfermagem à pessoa com úlcera de pé diabético ancorados na teoria de Horta

“…Além disso, sugere-se que os cuidados que versam atender as necessidades psicoespirituais podem contribuir para minimizar estes problemas, uma vez que estão intrinsecamente relacionadas.Estudos inferem que a oferta de cuidados de enfermagem influencia diretamente na qualidade de vida do indivíduo com UPD e, este cuidado impacta na dimensão psicológica.Contudo, muitos pacientes desenvolvem sentimentos de exclusão social por causa do estigma, diminuindo seus níveis de qualidade de vida(Luo et al, 2022). Em estudo efetivado no sudeste de Ontário, Canadá, demonstrou-se que a mudança de vida nesses pacientes, decorrentes das limitações que envolvem a sua condição, permearam as esferas física, psicológica e social, ressaltando a necessidade de suporte holístico(Lu et al, 2022;Camargo-Plazas, 2023; de necessidade psicossocial, que envolve a autoestima, autoconfiança e a autorresponsabilidade, Contribuciones a Las Ciencias Sociales, São José dosPinhais, v.16, n.10, p. 20643-20659, 2023…”