Patients’ Buying Behavior for Non-Reimbursed Off-Loading Devices Used in Diabetic Foot Ulcer Treatment—An Observational Study during COVID-19 Pandemic from a Romanian Physical Therapy Unit
Diabetic foot ulcer non-reimbursed treatment depends on multiple factors, including the patient’s buying behaviors. Factors affecting buying behaviors for the removable off-loading devices are not completely understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the patients’ buying behaviors of the r...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Journal of Clinical Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/12/20/6516 |
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| author | Iulia Iovanca Dragoi Florina Georgeta Popescu Frank L. Bowling Cosmina Ioana Bondor Mihai Ionac |
| author_facet | Iulia Iovanca Dragoi Florina Georgeta Popescu Frank L. Bowling Cosmina Ioana Bondor Mihai Ionac |
| author_sort | Iulia Iovanca Dragoi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Diabetic foot ulcer non-reimbursed treatment depends on multiple factors, including the patient’s buying behaviors. Factors affecting buying behaviors for the removable off-loading devices are not completely understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the patients’ buying behaviors of the removable off-loading devices and their influence on the DFU treatment outcomes remotely monitored during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this prospective observational study, 45 patients affected by diabetic peripheral neuropathy, with/without peripheral arterial disease, with foot ulcers treated with removable devices were remotely monitored. Prefabricated removable cast walkers, insoles, and therapeutic footwear were the proposed off-loading methods. Patients affected by high blood pressure (<i>p</i> = 0.018), peripheral arterial disease (<i>p</i> = 0.029), past amputations (<i>p</i> = 0.018), and ulcer on the left foot (<i>p</i> = 0.007) bought removable cast walkers. Rural provenience (<i>p</i> = 0.011) and male (<i>p</i> = 0.034) did not buy a removable walker. The healing rate was 69.4%, while the median healing time was 20 weeks. High blood pressure negatively influenced healing time (<i>p</i> = 0.020). Patients who bought the most efficient treatment method for DFUs were females from urban provenience, with amputation in the past, with peripheral arterial disease, and with high blood pressure. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T21:09:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7e82d482112647778562b67a37168b5e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-0383 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T21:09:56Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Clinical Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-7e82d482112647778562b67a37168b5e2023-11-19T16:52:13ZengMDPI AGJournal of Clinical Medicine2077-03832023-10-011220651610.3390/jcm12206516Patients’ Buying Behavior for Non-Reimbursed Off-Loading Devices Used in Diabetic Foot Ulcer Treatment—An Observational Study during COVID-19 Pandemic from a Romanian Physical Therapy UnitIulia Iovanca Dragoi0Florina Georgeta Popescu1Frank L. Bowling2Cosmina Ioana Bondor3Mihai Ionac4Department of Vascular Surgery and Reconstructive Microsurgery, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2 Eftimie Murgu Square, 300041 Timisoara, RomaniaDiscipline of Occupational Health, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2 Eftimie Murgu Square, 300041 Timisoara, RomaniaDepartment of Vascular Surgery and Reconstructive Microsurgery, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2 Eftimie Murgu Square, 300041 Timisoara, RomaniaDepartment of Medical Informatics and Biostatistics, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Iuliu Hațieganu”, 8 Victor Babeș, 400000 Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaDepartment of Vascular Surgery and Reconstructive Microsurgery, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2 Eftimie Murgu Square, 300041 Timisoara, RomaniaDiabetic foot ulcer non-reimbursed treatment depends on multiple factors, including the patient’s buying behaviors. Factors affecting buying behaviors for the removable off-loading devices are not completely understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the patients’ buying behaviors of the removable off-loading devices and their influence on the DFU treatment outcomes remotely monitored during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this prospective observational study, 45 patients affected by diabetic peripheral neuropathy, with/without peripheral arterial disease, with foot ulcers treated with removable devices were remotely monitored. Prefabricated removable cast walkers, insoles, and therapeutic footwear were the proposed off-loading methods. Patients affected by high blood pressure (<i>p</i> = 0.018), peripheral arterial disease (<i>p</i> = 0.029), past amputations (<i>p</i> = 0.018), and ulcer on the left foot (<i>p</i> = 0.007) bought removable cast walkers. Rural provenience (<i>p</i> = 0.011) and male (<i>p</i> = 0.034) did not buy a removable walker. The healing rate was 69.4%, while the median healing time was 20 weeks. High blood pressure negatively influenced healing time (<i>p</i> = 0.020). Patients who bought the most efficient treatment method for DFUs were females from urban provenience, with amputation in the past, with peripheral arterial disease, and with high blood pressure.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/12/20/6516diabetic foot ulceroff-loadingdiabetic peripheral neuropathyCOVID-19 pandemicbuying behaviorprotective footwear |
| spellingShingle | Iulia Iovanca Dragoi Florina Georgeta Popescu Frank L. Bowling Cosmina Ioana Bondor Mihai Ionac Patients’ Buying Behavior for Non-Reimbursed Off-Loading Devices Used in Diabetic Foot Ulcer Treatment—An Observational Study during COVID-19 Pandemic from a Romanian Physical Therapy Unit Journal of Clinical Medicine diabetic foot ulcer off-loading diabetic peripheral neuropathy COVID-19 pandemic buying behavior protective footwear |
| title | Patients’ Buying Behavior for Non-Reimbursed Off-Loading Devices Used in Diabetic Foot Ulcer Treatment—An Observational Study during COVID-19 Pandemic from a Romanian Physical Therapy Unit |
| title_full | Patients’ Buying Behavior for Non-Reimbursed Off-Loading Devices Used in Diabetic Foot Ulcer Treatment—An Observational Study during COVID-19 Pandemic from a Romanian Physical Therapy Unit |
| title_fullStr | Patients’ Buying Behavior for Non-Reimbursed Off-Loading Devices Used in Diabetic Foot Ulcer Treatment—An Observational Study during COVID-19 Pandemic from a Romanian Physical Therapy Unit |
| title_full_unstemmed | Patients’ Buying Behavior for Non-Reimbursed Off-Loading Devices Used in Diabetic Foot Ulcer Treatment—An Observational Study during COVID-19 Pandemic from a Romanian Physical Therapy Unit |
| title_short | Patients’ Buying Behavior for Non-Reimbursed Off-Loading Devices Used in Diabetic Foot Ulcer Treatment—An Observational Study during COVID-19 Pandemic from a Romanian Physical Therapy Unit |
| title_sort | patients buying behavior for non reimbursed off loading devices used in diabetic foot ulcer treatment an observational study during covid 19 pandemic from a romanian physical therapy unit |
| topic | diabetic foot ulcer off-loading diabetic peripheral neuropathy COVID-19 pandemic buying behavior protective footwear |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/12/20/6516 |
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