Diabetic foot and its serial treatment in high-risk patients: focusing on the individual

Rev Assoc Med Bras (1992). 2020 Nov;66(11):1542-1547. doi: 10.1590/1806-9282.66.11.1542.

Abstract

Objectives: To assess knowledge about diabetic foot, care measures, and the importance attached to serial treatment in a group of high-risk diabetic foot patients.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study, carried out in a tertiary hospital, with 25 patients undergoing serial treatment for diabetic foot. The tabulation of the data occurred through the use of three methodological figures: core idea, key expressions, and the collective subject discourse.

Results: It became evident that even among high-risk patients with diabetic foot, there is no complete knowledge about the definition of the disease. Despite this, all participants reported practicing daily care measures, including frequent inspection of the feet, food care, and attention to footwear. Regarding the importance of serial treatment, there was unanimous recognition of the relevance of this practice, which improves self-care discipline, optimizes the understanding of the disease, and helps to prevent progression.

Conclusions: Authentic speeches in the context of a pathology of considerable prevalence manifested, in an unprecedented way, with conceptions about its definition, care measures, and importance of serial treatment in a high-risk group.

MeSH terms

  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Diabetic Foot* / therapy
  • Humans
  • Physical Examination
  • Self Care