Exploring barriers and enablers of self-management behaviours in patients with diabetic foot ulcers: A qualitative study from the perceptions of patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals in primary care

• Main Authors: Zhu, Xiaoli, Lee, Eng Sing, Lim, Phoebe X. H., Chen, Yee Chui, Chan, Frederick H. F., Griva, Konstadina
• Other Authors: Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (LKCMedicine)
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2023
• Subjects: Science::Medicine; Diabetic Foot Ulcers; Self-Management
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/169091
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a serious threat to global health and diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) remains one of the most common complications of DM1 affecting around 20 million people annually.2 DFUs are complex to treat, take months or years to heal, and the recurrence rates remain high up to 40% within 1 year of healing.3 People with DFUs are at risk of prolonged healing times and hospitalisation, reduced quality of life4, 5 and higher five-year mortality rates.3 Moreover, DFU is a causal factor for up to 85% of patients with diabetes who subsequently undergo lower extremity amputation3, 6 and is a leading cause of global disability.2 Singapore has the highest rate of diabetic lower extremity amputation (DLEA) in the world7 because of DFU and the trend is increasing.8 Additionally, DFU is a substantial clinical and economic burden to health systems in Singapore with escalating healthcare costs corresponding to more proximal amputation levels and high re-admission rates.9 Thus, understanding barriers to managing DFU is vital for improving patient care.