title: ﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿Health-related quality of life and self-esteem in patients with diabetic foot ulcers: results of a cross-sectional comparative study.
abstract: ﻿﻿﻿To evaluate health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and self-esteem in patients with diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs), a cross-sectional, comparative study was conducted among 35 consecutive patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) attending outpatient clinics in Pouso Alegre, Brazil. Fifteen (15) patients with and 20 without a DFU participated in the study. Demographic variables were obtained and HRQoL and self-esteem were assessed using the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. In both groups, 80% of patients were women. Average age did not differ significantly between the DFU and control groups (average 56 [SD 8.42] and 52 years [SD 6.68], respectively) but disease duration was significantly longer (P < 0.001) in the DFU (mean 12 years, range 3 to 24 years) than in the control group (mean 8 years, range 1 to 21 years). Mean HRQoL scores in all domains were lower in the DFU than in the control group with significant differences in the following domains: physical functioning (P = 0.043), role physical (P = 0.003), social functioning (P = 0.022), and role emotional (P = 0.001). Self-esteem scores were similar in both groups. The results of this study confirm that patient HRQoL is negatively affected by the presence of a DFU. Wound prevention programs for patients with DM may help reduce the scope of this problem while DFU treatment programs that include psychological support may improve patient QoL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Sapucai Valley University-UNIVAS, MG, Brazil.﻿ luizmeneses@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Luiz Carlos
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: de Meneses
authors.forename: Leila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Blanes
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Francescato Veiga
authors.forename: Heitor
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Carvalho Gomes
authors.forename: Lydia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Masako Ferreira
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012649:Self Concept