Socio-Cultural Aspects of Diabetic Foot: An Ethnographic Study and an Integrated Model Proposal

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is an ongoing and growing health problem worldwide, with a series of important complications such as diabetic foot that can significatively reduce the quality of life of affected patients. This study aims to explore the socio-cultural aspects of patients with diabe...

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Main Authors: Davide Costa, Giuseppe Gallelli, Enrica Scalise, Nicola Ielapi, Umberto Marcello Bracale, Raffaele Serra
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Societies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4698/14/11/240
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author Davide Costa
Giuseppe Gallelli
Enrica Scalise
Nicola Ielapi
Umberto Marcello Bracale
Raffaele Serra
author_facet Davide Costa
Giuseppe Gallelli
Enrica Scalise
Nicola Ielapi
Umberto Marcello Bracale
Raffaele Serra
author_sort Davide Costa
collection DOAJ
description Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is an ongoing and growing health problem worldwide, with a series of important complications such as diabetic foot that can significatively reduce the quality of life of affected patients. This study aims to explore the socio-cultural aspects of patients with diabetic foot, analyzing the following research question: “What are the socio-cultural aspects experienced by patients with diabetic foot?” Methods: A qualitative design using an ethnographic approach was applied to study the social and cultural aspects of Italian diabetic foot patients. Results: We included 20 key informants: 13 men and 7 women. Ages ranged from 54 to 71, with an average age of 61.2. The data analysis revealed five main themes: perceptions of diabetic foot, living with diabetic foot, impacts of culture and economic performance, barriers to health and diabetic foot, and home remedies and alternative medicine. Conclusions: This study provides a new perspective on the influence of cultural factors on the health of diabetic foot patients, showing various factors related to a lack of knowledge and training, fear, and acceptance of diabetic foot. This study also presents a new integrated model which will allow patients and practitioners to act on the various critical issues that emerged from our research.
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spelling doaj-art-b80e3cfaca8d42d8b0f9c52324345aa02024-11-26T18:22:07ZengMDPI AGSocieties2075-46982024-11-01141124010.3390/soc14110240Socio-Cultural Aspects of Diabetic Foot: An Ethnographic Study and an Integrated Model ProposalDavide Costa0Giuseppe Gallelli1Enrica Scalise2Nicola Ielapi3Umberto Marcello Bracale4Raffaele Serra5Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, ItalyDepartment of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, ItalyDepartment of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, ItalyDepartment of Public Health and Infectious Disease, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, ItalyVascular Surgery Unit, Department of Public Health, University Federico II of Naples, 80138 Naples, ItalyDepartment of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, ItalyBackground: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is an ongoing and growing health problem worldwide, with a series of important complications such as diabetic foot that can significatively reduce the quality of life of affected patients. This study aims to explore the socio-cultural aspects of patients with diabetic foot, analyzing the following research question: “What are the socio-cultural aspects experienced by patients with diabetic foot?” Methods: A qualitative design using an ethnographic approach was applied to study the social and cultural aspects of Italian diabetic foot patients. Results: We included 20 key informants: 13 men and 7 women. Ages ranged from 54 to 71, with an average age of 61.2. The data analysis revealed five main themes: perceptions of diabetic foot, living with diabetic foot, impacts of culture and economic performance, barriers to health and diabetic foot, and home remedies and alternative medicine. Conclusions: This study provides a new perspective on the influence of cultural factors on the health of diabetic foot patients, showing various factors related to a lack of knowledge and training, fear, and acceptance of diabetic foot. This study also presents a new integrated model which will allow patients and practitioners to act on the various critical issues that emerged from our research.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4698/14/11/240diabetic footqualitative researchethnographyItalysocio-cultural aspectsintegrated model
spellingShingle Davide Costa
Giuseppe Gallelli
Enrica Scalise
Nicola Ielapi
Umberto Marcello Bracale
Raffaele Serra
Socio-Cultural Aspects of Diabetic Foot: An Ethnographic Study and an Integrated Model Proposal
Societies
diabetic foot
qualitative research
ethnography
Italy
socio-cultural aspects
integrated model
title Socio-Cultural Aspects of Diabetic Foot: An Ethnographic Study and an Integrated Model Proposal
title_full Socio-Cultural Aspects of Diabetic Foot: An Ethnographic Study and an Integrated Model Proposal
title_fullStr Socio-Cultural Aspects of Diabetic Foot: An Ethnographic Study and an Integrated Model Proposal
title_full_unstemmed Socio-Cultural Aspects of Diabetic Foot: An Ethnographic Study and an Integrated Model Proposal
title_short Socio-Cultural Aspects of Diabetic Foot: An Ethnographic Study and an Integrated Model Proposal
title_sort socio cultural aspects of diabetic foot an ethnographic study and an integrated model proposal
topic diabetic foot
qualitative research
ethnography
Italy
socio-cultural aspects
integrated model
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4698/14/11/240
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