title: The role of qualitative research in understanding diabetic foot ulcers and amputation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To enhance the learner's competence with knowledge about using qualitative methodologies to understand diabetic foot ulcers and amputations.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  This continuing education activity is intended for physicians and nurses with an interest in skin and wound care.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  After participating in this educational activity, the participant should be better able to:1. Analyze qualitative research methodologies.2. Summarize how conclusions from qualitative research relate to diabetes mellitus and its complications. Persons living with diabetes are at high risk for foot complications, lower extremity trauma, injury, ulceration, infection, and potential amputation. Qualitative health research helps to explore and understand more fully the complexities of diabetes. Qualitative health research seeks to understand what is happening and going on for the individual and his/her support persons. In addition, qualitative health research enables clinicians to appreciate how different qualitative research approaches can explore illness from the perspective of the individual living with the disease.
authors.affiliation: Janet L. Kuhnke, RN, BA, BScN, MS • Enterostomal Therapist • Faculty • BScN Collaborative Program • St. Lawrence College/Laurentian University • Cornwall, Ontario, Canada Patricia Hill Bailey, RN, BN, MHSc, PhD • Professor • School of Nursing • Laurentian University • Sudbury, Ontario, Canada M. Gail Woodbury, BScPT, MSc, PhD • Assistant Professor, Adjunct Faculty • School of Rehabilitation Therapy • Queen's University • Kingston, Ontario, Canada Mona Burrows, RN(EC), BScN, MScN, NP-PHC • Faculty • BScN Collaborative Program • St. Lawrence/Laurentian University • Cornwall, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Janet L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Kuhnke
authors.forename: Patricia Hill
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Bailey
authors.forename: M Gail
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Woodbury
authors.forename: Mona
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Burrows
mesh_terms: D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003657:Decision Making; D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018579:Patient Selection; D011379:Prognosis; D036301:Qualitative Research; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012380:Role; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome