Relationship Between Family Functioning and Degree of Diabetic Foot Injury in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Objective: to analyze the relationship between family functioning and the degree of foot injury in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (dm2). Methods: cross-sectional study. Sample of 286 patients with a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus and diabetic foot, hospitalized in a second level institution. The faces iii instrument and the Meggit-Wagner scale were applied. The association between variables was determined using the χ² goodness-of-fit test. Results: mean age was 57±14.2 years. There were more men (60.8%), married (54.9%) and workers (38.1%). Systemic arterial hypertension was the comorbidity with the highest incidence (65.7%). 52.4% of the participants showed balanced family functionality. The most predominant degree of injury was grade I (40.6%), followed by grade ii (21.7%). Family dysfunctionality was identified as increasing the risk of presenting a higher degree of diabetic foot injury (or of 10.0, p<0.0001). Conclusions: patients with family dysfunctionality are ten times more at risk of presenting a higher degree of diabetic foot involvement. Diabetic foot is a frequent complication with high impact for the patient and his family, it is up to the health team to develop interventions focused on the family to prevent its occurrence and limit the damage.