Determination of quality of life and self-management in individuals with diabetic foot ulcer

Diabetic foot negatively affects the quality of life of individuals. It is important to increase self-management behaviors in coping with the problems experienced in this process. This research was conducted to determine the relationship between quality of life and self-management levels in individuals with diabetic foot ulcers and the affecting factors. This research was conducted in the diabetic foot service and general surgery outpatient clinic of a training and research hospital in Çorum province. 165 patients with diabetic foot ulcers who applied to the outpatient clinic with a diagnosis of diabetic foot or received inpatient treatment, who did not have major amputation and met the inclusion criteria, were included in the study. Research data were collected using the Personal Information Form, Diabetic Foot Ulcer Scale Short Form and Diabetes Self-Management Scale. It was determined that the average duration of diabetes diagnosis of the patients, whose age was 64.19±9.33 years, was 12.98±7.75 years, 55.8% had another chronic disease, and 63.6% evaluated their health level as moderate. It was determined that 20.6% of the individuals had diabetic foot wounds in the second stage, 48.5% had diabetic foot wounds in the third stage, and 33.9% had minor amputations. It was determined that total self-management scores had a positive significant relationship with the quality of life sub-dimensions: leisure time, physical health, addiction, negative emotions, and concerns about ulcers, and a weak positive relationship with the ulcer boredom sub-dimension. Diabetic foot ulcers, one of the important and devastating complications of diabetes, negatively affect the physical, psychological and social living spaces of individuals. One of the important factors associated with quality of life is self-management. It is recommended to support self-management and plan nursing interventions to improve quality of life.