Original scientific paper
The Association between Self-Esteem Level and Quality of Life in Patients with Diabetic Foot: A Cross-Sectional Study
Nina Hadžić
; Vuk Vrhovac University Clinic Merkur University Hospital Zagreb, Croatia
Vilma Kolarić
; Vuk Vrhovac University Clinic Merkur University Hospital Zagreb, Croatia
Viktorija Hefer
; Vuk Vrhovac University Clinic Merkur University Hospital Zagreb, Croatia
Marin Čargo
orcid.org/0000-0003-0189-4168
; Catholic University of Croatia Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
Introduction: Diabetes is a global problem of modern times, and diabetic foot is an unpleasant complication of diabetes, which requires long-term, expensive and exhaustive treatment. Diabetes as a chronic disease can affect many aspects of an individual’s quality of life, and patients suffering from diabetes are usually at risk of developing low self-esteem.
Aim: This study aimed to determine whether there is a relationship between the level of self-esteem and the estimated quality of life in patients with diabetes and diabetic foot.
Methods: This study was conducted at the Institute for Diabetes and the Diabetic Foot Clinic of the Vuk Vrhovac University Clinic, Merkur University Hospital, Zagreb, Croatia, from February 2020 to October 2021. The participants were patients who suffered from diabetes and had diabetic foot as a complication. Data were collected using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSE) and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF).
Results: A total of 68 participants participated in the study. The quality of life of those included in the study worsened as the degree of diabetic foot worsened, and was the worst in the physical domain (F(2/65)=22.160; P<.01). Likewise, signifi cant positive correlations were obtained among all measures of quality of life and self-esteem. The higher the quality of life, the higher the level of self-esteem, and vice versa. The highest correlation was between the mental health domain and self-esteem (r=0.860**).
Conclusion: This study showed that quality of life is impaired in patients with diabetic foot and worsens as the diabetic foot worsens. Furthermore, it showed that the quality of life in these patients is also related to the level of self-esteem. Therefore, it is important to take all preventive measures and include all available resources in order to prevent the development of diabetes complications.
Keywords
diabetes; diabetic foot; self-esteem; quality of life
Hrčak ID:
334376
URI
Publication date:
2.6.2024.
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