Diabetic Foot Ulcer Patients' Uncertainty Regarding Their Prognosis: A Q-Methodological Study

PURPOSE: The purpose of this qualitative study was to identify the subjective patient perspectives toward the uncertainty regarding diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) prognosis. DESIGN: Q-methodology, which is a qualitative method for analyzing subjective viewpoints, was used. SUBJECTS AND SETTING: Forty patients with DFUs who were admitted to the diabetic wound center of a university hospital in Seoul, South Korea. METHODS: Data were collected on the subjective viewpoint of patients regarding their DFU prognosis uncertainty and analyzed by the software program PQMethod 2.35 using a principal component analysis and varimax rotation. RESULTS: This study revealed 4 factors characterizing patient subjective experience related to DFU prognosis: confusion from a lack of knowledge, concerns about a negative future, overdependence on information, and expectations for a positive outlook about favorable results. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study suggest various intervention methods for patients with DFU facing uncertainty about their prognosis based on the 4 viewpoints identified. The identification of the factor causing uncertainty and integration of all uncertainty factors are expected to be used as the basis for reducing patients' uncertainty and helping nurses care for patients more effectively.