Thoughts and experiences on leg amputation among patients with diabetic foot ulcers
Background Although leg amputation is common among patients with diabetic foot ulcers, only few studies have examined the thoughts regarding leg amputation from the perspective of patients. Aim This study aims to explore the thoughts of patients with diabetic foot ulcers regarding leg amputation. Me...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Taylor & Francis Group
2022-12-01
|
| Series: | International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2021.2009202 |
| _version_ | 1797960653355352064 |
|---|---|
| author | Marie Kragh Nielsen Heidi Bergenholtz Ulla Riis Madsen |
| author_facet | Marie Kragh Nielsen Heidi Bergenholtz Ulla Riis Madsen |
| author_sort | Marie Kragh Nielsen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background Although leg amputation is common among patients with diabetic foot ulcers, only few studies have examined the thoughts regarding leg amputation from the perspective of patients. Aim This study aims to explore the thoughts of patients with diabetic foot ulcers regarding leg amputation. Method A qualitative design using semi-structured interviews were used and analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). In all five patients participated and the interview questions were focused on thoughts in relation to a possible leg amputation. Findings Four significant themes were revealed: 1) “Considered—not spoken”—reflections on being alone with one’s thoughts, 2) “What people think about me”—concerns about consequences on social relations, 3) “The tough ones and the ones who whine”—considerations about expected self-efficacy and 4) “Limitations and opportunities”—thoughts about physical consequences. Conclusion Even if an amputation is not yet planned, having a diabetic foot ulcer can result in divergent thoughts regarding leg amputation. The findings indicate that amputation is considered a taboo which makes it difficult for the patient to talk about it within either the health care context or with relatives. Health care professionals should therefore be aware of how they communicate regarding leg amputation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T00:48:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f12babc7425547e69f1b41e9ca55994a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1748-2623 1748-2631 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T00:48:28Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being |
| spelling | doaj.art-f12babc7425547e69f1b41e9ca55994a2023-01-05T12:01:27ZengTaylor & Francis GroupInternational Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being1748-26231748-26312022-12-0117110.1080/17482631.2021.20092022009202Thoughts and experiences on leg amputation among patients with diabetic foot ulcersMarie Kragh Nielsen0Heidi Bergenholtz1Ulla Riis Madsen2Herlev HospitalHolbaek HospitalHolbaek Hospital, DenmarkBackground Although leg amputation is common among patients with diabetic foot ulcers, only few studies have examined the thoughts regarding leg amputation from the perspective of patients. Aim This study aims to explore the thoughts of patients with diabetic foot ulcers regarding leg amputation. Method A qualitative design using semi-structured interviews were used and analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). In all five patients participated and the interview questions were focused on thoughts in relation to a possible leg amputation. Findings Four significant themes were revealed: 1) “Considered—not spoken”—reflections on being alone with one’s thoughts, 2) “What people think about me”—concerns about consequences on social relations, 3) “The tough ones and the ones who whine”—considerations about expected self-efficacy and 4) “Limitations and opportunities”—thoughts about physical consequences. Conclusion Even if an amputation is not yet planned, having a diabetic foot ulcer can result in divergent thoughts regarding leg amputation. The findings indicate that amputation is considered a taboo which makes it difficult for the patient to talk about it within either the health care context or with relatives. Health care professionals should therefore be aware of how they communicate regarding leg amputation.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2021.2009202lower limb amputationpatient perspectiveperceived self-efficacypsycho-social consequencestaboo |
| spellingShingle | Marie Kragh Nielsen Heidi Bergenholtz Ulla Riis Madsen Thoughts and experiences on leg amputation among patients with diabetic foot ulcers International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being lower limb amputation patient perspective perceived self-efficacy psycho-social consequences taboo |
| title | Thoughts and experiences on leg amputation among patients with diabetic foot ulcers |
| title_full | Thoughts and experiences on leg amputation among patients with diabetic foot ulcers |
| title_fullStr | Thoughts and experiences on leg amputation among patients with diabetic foot ulcers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Thoughts and experiences on leg amputation among patients with diabetic foot ulcers |
| title_short | Thoughts and experiences on leg amputation among patients with diabetic foot ulcers |
| title_sort | thoughts and experiences on leg amputation among patients with diabetic foot ulcers |
| topic | lower limb amputation patient perspective perceived self-efficacy psycho-social consequences taboo |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2021.2009202 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mariekraghnielsen thoughtsandexperiencesonlegamputationamongpatientswithdiabeticfootulcers AT heidibergenholtz thoughtsandexperiencesonlegamputationamongpatientswithdiabeticfootulcers AT ullariismadsen thoughtsandexperiencesonlegamputationamongpatientswithdiabeticfootulcers |