“When nothing happens, nobody is afraid!” beliefs and perceptions around self-care and health-seeking behaviours: Voices of patients living with diabetic lower extremity amputation in primary care

Abstract

Self-management and self-care are the cornerstone of diabetes care and an essential part of successfully preventing or delaying diabetes complications. Yet, despite being armed with the required information and guidance for self-management, self-care and adherence to foot self-care recommendations and compliance to medication among patients with diabetic foot ulcer and diabetic lower extremity amputations remain low and suboptimal. This study reveals in-depth account of nine such patients' beliefs and perceptions around their illness, their self-care, and their health-seeking behaviours. Patients living with diabetic lower extremity amputation displayed profound lack of knowledge of self-care of diabetes and foot and passive health-related behaviours. The overarching sense that "when nothing happens, nobody is afraid," points to a lack of motivation in taking charge of one's own health, whether this is with reference to treatment or care adherence, following recommended self-care advice, or seeking timely treatment. The Health Beliefs Model provides the theoretical framework for probing into the factors for the participants' suboptimal self-care and passive health-seeking behaviours. Two themes emerged from data analysis: profound knowledge deficit and passive health-related behaviours. The beliefs and perceptions around self-care and health-seeking behaviours for patients with lower extremity amputation are interpreted as the “ignorant self” with passive health-seeking behaviours. Patients with diabetes and diabetic foot diseases may benefit from personalized education, motivational interviewing, and family support.