Care Management Challenges for Diabetic Foot Ulcers: A Qualitative Study

Background: Diabetes mellitus, if is not well taken care and treated, may exacerbate complications such as ulcers, infections, amputations. Accordingly, preventive measures timely treatment are of paramount importance. Objectives: This study sought to collect profound experiences about diabetic ulcer management with an emphasis on community-based care. Methods: The was carried out using the qualitative content analysis method during 2017 - 2018 in Semnan Province, Iran. encompassed 14 participants, including six caregivers, two family members, one nurse, nursing supervisor, manager counseling service centers (CNCSCs), head physicians, who were selected purposive sampling method. process performed based Graneheim Lundma’s approach. Results: Two main categories follows: (1) "Dispersion measures," subcategories ‘vague perception disease symptoms’, ‘inability self-management’ ‘low-efficient care’, (2) "Gradual access outpatient services" ‘gradual expansion ‘complexity financial transactions’, ‘improving inter-sectoral cooperation’ ‘ambiguous professional boundaries’. Conclusions: Care facilities offering services foot especially centers, gradually expanding, new wound methods being adopted. However, lack self-care management, insufficient support, treatment-oriented approaches, all clients’ these some problems that still exist ulcers.