'I cut toenails with scissors and trim it with sand paper'. Patients’ perspectives on diabetic foot complications

Introduction: This study aimed to explore type 2 diabetes mellitus patients' perspectives on diabetic foot complications and challenges of footcare management in Sigatoka, Fiji. Methods: This study applied a qualitative approach among persons with diabetes who attended diabetic foot clin...

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Main Authors: Suliana Saverio, Masoud Mohammadnezhad, Filimone Raikanikoda
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: James Cook University 2025-01-01
Series:Rural and Remote Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.rrh.org.au/journal/article/8614/
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author Suliana Saverio
Masoud Mohammadnezhad
Filimone Raikanikoda
author_facet Suliana Saverio
Masoud Mohammadnezhad
Filimone Raikanikoda
author_sort Suliana Saverio
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: This study aimed to explore type 2 diabetes mellitus patients' perspectives on diabetic foot complications and challenges of footcare management in Sigatoka, Fiji. Methods: This study applied a qualitative approach among persons with diabetes who attended diabetic foot clinics from August to September 2021. Participants were selected through purposive sampling and included any self-identified Fijian aged 18 years and over who had type 2 diabetes with a minimum diagnosis duration of 6 months and no experience of an amputation. Data were collected using semi-structured in-depth interviews, and the content of interviews was transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis to generate themes and subthemes outlined in the study. Results: The study included 30 participants. Three major themes were identified. The first was patient perceptions of diabetic foot complications, which showed that there was very limited patient knowledge of how diabetes caused foot complications. The second was practising foot care, which reflected that commonly practised recommendations were associated with daily activities like washing the feet. Third was patient perceptions of footcare services, whereby the majority were generally happy with the footcare services available to them. Conclusion: The study results indicated that patients lacked sufficient knowledge about the symptoms and prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus, and healthy practices related to food complications. More effort needs to be invested into diabetes and footcare knowledge and practices for patients at the Sigatoka Hospital. This will help guide patients to make life-altering decisions that can help reduce the rate of diabetes related lower limb amputations, which are easily preventable.
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spelling doaj-art-cf0bf86d2b5b4d2eb15df6a201ece42f2025-01-19T23:40:44ZengJames Cook UniversityRural and Remote Health1445-63542025-01-012510.22605/RRH8614'I cut toenails with scissors and trim it with sand paper'. Patients’ perspectives on diabetic foot complicationsSuliana Saverio0Masoud Mohammadnezhad1Filimone Raikanikoda2Fiji Ministry of Health and Medical ServicesUniversity of BradfordFiji National University Introduction: This study aimed to explore type 2 diabetes mellitus patients' perspectives on diabetic foot complications and challenges of footcare management in Sigatoka, Fiji. Methods: This study applied a qualitative approach among persons with diabetes who attended diabetic foot clinics from August to September 2021. Participants were selected through purposive sampling and included any self-identified Fijian aged 18 years and over who had type 2 diabetes with a minimum diagnosis duration of 6 months and no experience of an amputation. Data were collected using semi-structured in-depth interviews, and the content of interviews was transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis to generate themes and subthemes outlined in the study. Results: The study included 30 participants. Three major themes were identified. The first was patient perceptions of diabetic foot complications, which showed that there was very limited patient knowledge of how diabetes caused foot complications. The second was practising foot care, which reflected that commonly practised recommendations were associated with daily activities like washing the feet. Third was patient perceptions of footcare services, whereby the majority were generally happy with the footcare services available to them. Conclusion: The study results indicated that patients lacked sufficient knowledge about the symptoms and prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus, and healthy practices related to food complications. More effort needs to be invested into diabetes and footcare knowledge and practices for patients at the Sigatoka Hospital. This will help guide patients to make life-altering decisions that can help reduce the rate of diabetes related lower limb amputations, which are easily preventable. https://www.rrh.org.au/journal/article/8614/Fijifoot complicationsfoot self-carefoot ulcerpatients’ perceptionstype 2 diabetes.
spellingShingle Suliana Saverio
Masoud Mohammadnezhad
Filimone Raikanikoda
'I cut toenails with scissors and trim it with sand paper'. Patients’ perspectives on diabetic foot complications
Rural and Remote Health
Fiji
foot complications
foot self-care
foot ulcer
patients’ perceptions
type 2 diabetes.
title 'I cut toenails with scissors and trim it with sand paper'. Patients’ perspectives on diabetic foot complications
title_full 'I cut toenails with scissors and trim it with sand paper'. Patients’ perspectives on diabetic foot complications
title_fullStr 'I cut toenails with scissors and trim it with sand paper'. Patients’ perspectives on diabetic foot complications
title_full_unstemmed 'I cut toenails with scissors and trim it with sand paper'. Patients’ perspectives on diabetic foot complications
title_short 'I cut toenails with scissors and trim it with sand paper'. Patients’ perspectives on diabetic foot complications
title_sort 039 i cut toenails with scissors and trim it with sand paper 039 patients rsquo perspectives on diabetic foot complications
topic Fiji
foot complications
foot self-care
foot ulcer
patients’ perceptions
type 2 diabetes.
url https://www.rrh.org.au/journal/article/8614/
work_keys_str_mv AT sulianasaverio 039icuttoenailswithscissorsandtrimitwithsandpaper039patientsrsquoperspectivesondiabeticfootcomplications
AT masoudmohammadnezhad 039icuttoenailswithscissorsandtrimitwithsandpaper039patientsrsquoperspectivesondiabeticfootcomplications
AT filimoneraikanikoda 039icuttoenailswithscissorsandtrimitwithsandpaper039patientsrsquoperspectivesondiabeticfootcomplications