Family experience in caring family members with diabetic foot ulcer: Phenomenological study

Abstract

Objective

This study aims to determine the family experiences in treating members with diabetic foot ulcer.

Method

A qualitative study with descriptive phenomenology design, was conducted at Central Tapanuli Regency, and the participants were diabetic patients with foot ulcer. Furthermore, seven participants were involved accidentally using the snowball sampling method, and the data was collected during an in-depth interview.

Results

The results showed 5 themes, which includes (1) Ability of the family to fulfill the health responsibilities of its Members, (2) Efforts to Control Blood Sugar, (3) Treatment of Diabetic Foot Wounds, (4) Psychological responses during care, (5) The effects of foot ulcer treatment, diabetes in the family.

Conclusions

The involvement of family members by caring for people with diabetes and foot ulcer plays an important role in supporting system. This study provides an understanding on the role of the family in caring for the members with diabetic foot ulcers.