Abstract
The impact of lower extremity ulcers on the quality of life (QoL) of patients with diabetes and their care givers was assessed in a series of focus groups. Fourteen patients with diabetes and lower extremity ulcers and 11 care givers participated in the focus groups. Semi-structured discussions identified the issues relating to four broad QoL domains and sub-domains: social (daily, leisure, family and social life), psychological (emotional health and positive consequences), physical (physical health and treatment impact) and economic (employment and finances). The patients and care givers experienced a negative impact on all domains of QoL because of the limitations in mobility caused by the ulcer which required an adaptation to a different lifestyle. A reduction in social activities, increased family tensions, lost time from work and a negative impact on general health were experienced by both groups. It is necessary to separate the impact of the ulcer from the general condition of diabetes on both patients' and care givers' QoL. The results from this disease-specific focus will allow for an improved clinical understanding with targeted interventions and contribute to the development of a disease-specific instrument to understand and measure QoL better in these individuals.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Levin ME. Diabetic foot ulcers: pathogenesis and management. J Enterostom Ther Nursing 1993; 20: 191–198.
Grunfeld C. Diabetic foot ulcers: etiology, treatment and prevention. Adv Int Med 1992; 37: 103–132.
Glasgow RE, Ruggiero L, Eakin EG, Dryfood J, Chobanian L. Quality of life and associated characteristics in a large national sample of adults with diabetes. Diabetes Care 1997; 20: 562–567.
Peyrot M, Rubin RR. Levels and risks of depression and anxiety symptomatology among diabetic adults. Diabetes Care 1997; 20: 585–590.
Frank PJ, Moffatt CJ, Connolly M, Bosanquet N, Oldroyd RM, Greenhalgh RM, Community leg ulcer clinics: effect on quality of life. Phlebology 1994; 9: 83–86.
Meenan RF, Mason JH, Anderson JJ, Guccione AA, Kazis LE. The content and properties of a revised and expanded arthritis impact measurement scales health status questionnaire. Arthritis Rheum 1992; 35: 1–10.
Hammond GS, Aoki TT. Measurement of health status in diabetic patients: diabetes impact measurements scales. Diabetes Care 1992; 15: 469–477.
Epstein RS, Deverka PA, Chute CGT et al. Validation of a new quality of life questionnaire for benign prostatic hyperplasia. J Clin Epidemiol 1992; 45:1431–1445.
Testa MA, Simonson DG. Current concepts: assessment of quality of life outcomes. New Engl J Med 1996; 334: 835–840.
Schipper H, Clinch JJ, Olweny CLM. Quality of life studies: definitions and conceptual issues. In: Spilker B, ed. Quality of Life and Pharmacoeconomics in Clinical Trials, 2nd edn. New York: Lippincott-Raven, 1996:11–24.
Spilker B, Revicki DA. Taxonomy of quality of life. In: Spilker B, ed. Quality of Life and Pharmacoeconomics in Clinical Trials, 2nd edn. New York: Lippincott-Raven, 1996: 25–32.
Krueger RA. Group dynamics and focus groups. In: Spilkers B, ed. Quality of Life and Pharmacoeconomics in Clinical Trials, 2nd edn. New York: Lippincott-Raven: 1996: 397–402.
Kitzinger J. Focus groups; method or madness? In: Boulton M, ed. Challenge and Innovation; Methodological Advances in Social Research on HIV/AIDS. London: Taylor and Francis, 1994: 159–175.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Brod, M. Pilot Study - Quality of Life Issues in Patients with Diabetes and Lower Extremity Ulcers: Patients and Care Givers. Qual Life Res 7, 365–372 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1024994232353
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1024994232353