Abstract
Background
In Denmark there is a lack of qualitative studies concerning the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers from the patient's perspective.
Aim
To study how patients with diabetic foot ulcers experience their first visit at a multidisciplinary diabetic foot centre, and to improve the nursing care for these patients.
Design & Method
The Diabetic Foot Ulcer Centre of Northern Jutland consists of a multidisciplinary team with diabetologists., orthopaedic surgeons and specialist nurses, a podiatrist and an orthopaedic shoemaker. Initially, eight field studies were performed in the centre to get an insight in the field. This was followed by interviews with eight patients with diabetes type 1 or 2 and foot ulcers (four females and four males). The interviews took place in the patients' home after their first visit. The patients had no previous contact to a hospital setting.
The transcribed interviews were analyzed using tools of a narrative approach and an ethical and a text analytical approach.
Findings
Most patients were unable to describe how or why they got the foot ulcer.
They often tried to ignore the seriousness of the condition and had unrealistic expectations concerning their prognosis.
A high number of health care professionals involved increased the patient's feeling of safety and professionalism.
The majority of patients did not follow the instructions given at the centre and only few used the therapeutic footwear provided at the clinic. When relatives accompanied patients to the centre, information and instructions were better understood and followed.
Conclusion
Patients were satisfied with their first visit to the centre. The multidisciplinary involvement had a positive influence on the patients' experience. Nurses should be aware of the patient's serious concerns and have those concerns forward in conversation with the patient.
Perspective
To ensure that instructions are understood and followed, we suggest that the district nurses are involved immediately after the patient's visit to the centre. Alternatively, patient compliance might be increased through phone contacts from the centre in the days following their visit.
In Denmark there is a lack of qualitative studies concerning the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers from the patient's perspective.
Aim
To study how patients with diabetic foot ulcers experience their first visit at a multidisciplinary diabetic foot centre, and to improve the nursing care for these patients.
Design & Method
The Diabetic Foot Ulcer Centre of Northern Jutland consists of a multidisciplinary team with diabetologists., orthopaedic surgeons and specialist nurses, a podiatrist and an orthopaedic shoemaker. Initially, eight field studies were performed in the centre to get an insight in the field. This was followed by interviews with eight patients with diabetes type 1 or 2 and foot ulcers (four females and four males). The interviews took place in the patients' home after their first visit. The patients had no previous contact to a hospital setting.
The transcribed interviews were analyzed using tools of a narrative approach and an ethical and a text analytical approach.
Findings
Most patients were unable to describe how or why they got the foot ulcer.
They often tried to ignore the seriousness of the condition and had unrealistic expectations concerning their prognosis.
A high number of health care professionals involved increased the patient's feeling of safety and professionalism.
The majority of patients did not follow the instructions given at the centre and only few used the therapeutic footwear provided at the clinic. When relatives accompanied patients to the centre, information and instructions were better understood and followed.
Conclusion
Patients were satisfied with their first visit to the centre. The multidisciplinary involvement had a positive influence on the patients' experience. Nurses should be aware of the patient's serious concerns and have those concerns forward in conversation with the patient.
Perspective
To ensure that instructions are understood and followed, we suggest that the district nurses are involved immediately after the patient's visit to the centre. Alternatively, patient compliance might be increased through phone contacts from the centre in the days following their visit.
| Originalsprog | Engelsk |
|---|---|
| Publikationsdato | 28 sep. 2012 |
| Antal sider | 1 |
| Status | Udgivet - 28 sep. 2012 |
| Udgivet eksternt | Ja |
| Begivenhed | Diabetic Foot Study Group - Berlin-Potsdam Varighed: 28 sep. 2012 → 30 sep. 2012 |
Konference
| Konference | Diabetic Foot Study Group |
|---|---|
| By | Berlin-Potsdam |
| Periode | 28/09/2012 → 30/09/2012 |