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

Davide Costa (), Giuseppe Gallelli, Enrica Scalise, Nicola Ielapi, Umberto Marcello Bracale and Raffaele Serra ()
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Davide Costa: Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Giuseppe Gallelli: Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Enrica Scalise: Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Nicola Ielapi: Department of Public Health and Infectious Disease, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Umberto Marcello Bracale: Vascular Surgery Unit, Department of Public Health, University Federico II of Naples, 80138 Naples, Italy
Raffaele Serra: Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy

Societies, 2024, vol. 14, issue 11, 1-23

Abstract: 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.

Keywords: diabetic foot; qualitative research; ethnography; Italy; socio-cultural aspects; integrated model (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A13 A14 P P0 P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 Z1 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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