The Decision Making Process of Diabetic Foot Patients Receiving Amputation-the Viewpoints of Patients and Families

• Main Authors: LIU, JU-FEN, 劉洳汾
• Other Authors: WANG, SHOU-YU
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2016
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/dv3n4d

碩士 === 弘光科技大學 === 護理研究所 === 104 === Diabetes has been the fourth leading cause of death in Taiwan since 2002, and is listed as one of the top four most prevalent chronic diseases by the World Health Organization. Patients who have diabetic foot, as well as their families, are faced with the burden of possible limb amputation and treatment. The objective of this study was to explore the understanding of the diabetic foot patients’ and their families’ decision-making processes of amputation. Grounded theory methods were used in this study. Data from 16 participants (consisted of 11 patients and 5 family members) were collected using purposive sampling in a regional hospital in Taiwan. The data analysis was conducted through open coding, axial coding, selective coding, and memo writing. The study revealed that the decision-making process of amputation from the point of view of patients and their families consisted of three categories and one core category. The three categories were the devastation of experiencing multiple diseases, the experience of treatment in wounds difficult to heal, and the decision to amputate. The core category of the decision-making process of amputation was “amputation in order to survive.” The study results indicated that the patients and their family members experienced anxiety and feelings of helplessness during the decision-making process of amputation caused by diabetic foot because of the extreme difficulty and dilemmatic nature of the decision. Therefore, after understanding the patients’ medical history and decision-making process regarding amputation, healthcare professionals are encouraged to empathize such patients, respect the patients’ and family’s decision, and thereby provide them with necessary care. Future research should include professionals’ perspective and family members’ care process for amputees to understand the decision-making process of patients who require amputation.