Burden of caregivers of diabetic foot ulcers: a single-centre, descriptive correlational study in Türkiye

Objectives Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is a major complication of poorly managed diabetes mellitus. Home care of individuals with chronic wounds is often supported by family members. The study aims to determine the burden of caregivers of DFU patients and the factors influencing this burden.Design A d...

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Main Authors: Nese Saltoglu, Eylem Toğluk Yiğitoğlu, Ömer Kaygu, İlker İnanç Balkan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2025-06-01
Series:BMJ Open
Online Access:https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/6/e092676.full
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author Nese Saltoglu
Eylem Toğluk Yiğitoğlu
Ömer Kaygu
İlker İnanç Balkan
author_facet Nese Saltoglu
Eylem Toğluk Yiğitoğlu
Ömer Kaygu
İlker İnanç Balkan
author_sort Nese Saltoglu
collection DOAJ
description Objectives Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is a major complication of poorly managed diabetes mellitus. Home care of individuals with chronic wounds is often supported by family members. The study aims to determine the burden of caregivers of DFU patients and the factors influencing this burden.Design A descriptive-correlational research.Setting The study sample consisted of caregivers of patients who applied to the Diabetic Foot Council between December 2022 and November 2023.Participants The study included 101 caregivers who were primarily responsible for the care of the DFU patient, had been caring for the patient for at least 2 months, provided unpaid care and agreed to participate in the study.Outcome measures Data were collected using the Descriptive Characteristics Form and Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale.Results The mean age of the caregivers was 45.34±12.62, and the mean age of the patients was 59.57±9.18. The care burden of caregivers was 46.47±11.39. The highest levels of care burden were observed in the economic and dependency subscales. When the relationship between the independent variables of the model and the dependent variable was examined, it was found that providing support to move the patient [β=0.97; p=0.001] and the need for training in patient care [β=0.51; p=0.012] were independent factors that increased the burden of the caregiver, while the patient’s ability to follow his/her own medication [β=−0.46; p=0.039] was the independent factor that decreased the burden of the caregiver.Conclusion Based on these findings, further research is required to assess the effectiveness of professional healthcare services, self-care interventions and support strategies aimed at alleviating caregiver burden and enhancing care quality.
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spelling doaj-art-4d169dcd00094e05883d565cbc24a8302025-08-20T02:03:16ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552025-06-0115610.1136/bmjopen-2024-092676Burden of caregivers of diabetic foot ulcers: a single-centre, descriptive correlational study in TürkiyeNese Saltoglu0Eylem Toğluk Yiğitoğlu1Ömer Kaygu2İlker İnanç Balkan3Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, İstanbul University-Cerrahpasa, İstanbul, TürkiyeNursing Faculty, İstanbul University, İstanbul, TürkiyeDepartment of General Surgery, İstanbul University-Cerrahpasa, İstanbul, TürkiyeDepartment of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, İstanbul University-Cerrahpasa, İstanbul, TürkiyeObjectives Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is a major complication of poorly managed diabetes mellitus. Home care of individuals with chronic wounds is often supported by family members. The study aims to determine the burden of caregivers of DFU patients and the factors influencing this burden.Design A descriptive-correlational research.Setting The study sample consisted of caregivers of patients who applied to the Diabetic Foot Council between December 2022 and November 2023.Participants The study included 101 caregivers who were primarily responsible for the care of the DFU patient, had been caring for the patient for at least 2 months, provided unpaid care and agreed to participate in the study.Outcome measures Data were collected using the Descriptive Characteristics Form and Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale.Results The mean age of the caregivers was 45.34±12.62, and the mean age of the patients was 59.57±9.18. The care burden of caregivers was 46.47±11.39. The highest levels of care burden were observed in the economic and dependency subscales. When the relationship between the independent variables of the model and the dependent variable was examined, it was found that providing support to move the patient [β=0.97; p=0.001] and the need for training in patient care [β=0.51; p=0.012] were independent factors that increased the burden of the caregiver, while the patient’s ability to follow his/her own medication [β=−0.46; p=0.039] was the independent factor that decreased the burden of the caregiver.Conclusion Based on these findings, further research is required to assess the effectiveness of professional healthcare services, self-care interventions and support strategies aimed at alleviating caregiver burden and enhancing care quality.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/6/e092676.full
spellingShingle Nese Saltoglu
Eylem Toğluk Yiğitoğlu
Ömer Kaygu
İlker İnanç Balkan
Burden of caregivers of diabetic foot ulcers: a single-centre, descriptive correlational study in Türkiye
BMJ Open
title Burden of caregivers of diabetic foot ulcers: a single-centre, descriptive correlational study in Türkiye
title_full Burden of caregivers of diabetic foot ulcers: a single-centre, descriptive correlational study in Türkiye
title_fullStr Burden of caregivers of diabetic foot ulcers: a single-centre, descriptive correlational study in Türkiye
title_full_unstemmed Burden of caregivers of diabetic foot ulcers: a single-centre, descriptive correlational study in Türkiye
title_short Burden of caregivers of diabetic foot ulcers: a single-centre, descriptive correlational study in Türkiye
title_sort burden of caregivers of diabetic foot ulcers a single centre descriptive correlational study in turkiye
url https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/6/e092676.full
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