Despite being armed with the required information and guidance, researchers found that self-care, adherence to recommendations, and compliance to medication among patients with diabetic foot ulcers and diabetic lower-limb amputations remains low and suboptimal. The patients “displayed profound lack of knowledge of self-care of diabetes and foot and passive health-related behaviors,” according to the resultant study. The authors suggested that patients with diabetes and diabetic foot diseases may benefit from personalized education, motivational interviewing, and family support.
The researchers conducted an in-depth account of nine patients’ beliefs and perceptions around their illness, their self-care, and their health-seeking behaviors. The Health Beliefs Model provided the framework in which two themes emerged from data analysis: profound knowledge deficit and passive health-related behaviors.
The results pointed to a lack of motivation in taking charge of one’s own health, whether this is with reference to treatment or care adherence, following recommended self-care advice, or seeking timely treatment.
The article, “‘When nothing happens, nobody is afraid!’ beliefs and perceptions around self-care and health-seeking behaviours: Voices of patients living with diabetic lower extremity amputation in primary care,” was published in International Would Journal.
