Experiences of middle-aged individuals with lower extremity amputation caused by diabetic foot ulcer after disability in China: A qualitative study.
Ziwei Xu, Kangyao Cheng, Kuan Wang and 1 others
PMID 38875354WHAT IT FOUND
Middle-aged patients with diabetic amputations felt their family and work roles collapsed, leading to secrecy and withdrawal.
They struggled with pain and appearance, often turning to faith. They reported poor communication about surgery and difficulty accessing continuous care after discharge.
Key findings
01Participants experienced significant role confusion, including unemployment, early retirement, and an inability to fulfill family obligations like caring for parents or attending funerals.
02Patients reported high levels of self-concept stress, characterized by over-focusing on physical appearance, hiding their condition from family, and experiencing phantom limb pain.
03Participants felt unsupported by the healthcare system due to short hospital stays, lack of community wound care access, and poor communication regarding surgical decisions.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study included only 11 participants, all from two hospitals in a large Chinese metropolis. Most participants were male (9 of 11), and those included had better economic and educational backgrounds than the general population. The findings may not transfer to rural areas or different cultural contexts.
Declared interests
The study was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China. The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume these findings apply to all amputee populations. The participants were middle-aged, predominantly male, and from urban China with higher socioeconomic status, so their specific experiences with family roles and healthcare access may differ from other groups.