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

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.

A descriptive-correlational research.

The study sample consisted of caregivers of patients who applied to the Diabetic Foot Council between December 2022 and November 2023.

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.

Data were collected using the Descriptive Characteristics Form and Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale.

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.

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.