Healthcare interventions to aid patient self-management of lower limb wounds: A systematic scoping review.

Chronic lower limb wounds can be described as having the inability to progress through stages of wound healing. Although 80% of lower limb wounds develop as a result of venous insufficiency, other causes include arterial disease and diabetes. In addition to the sustained impact on quality of life, the chronicity of lower limb wounds presents a significant financial burden to healthcare systems. Self-management is a fundamental aspect of the long-term management of chronic illness and its relevance has intensified since the start of the global pandemic. The objective of this systematic scoping review was to define what the self-management of a lower limb wound entails and explore the interventions available to support patients to self-manage. A total of seven articles were evaluated. There was limited consensus regarding the definition and components of self-management in this area. Interventions involved patients participating in additional exercise, wound care, and lifestyle behaviours such as limb elevation and skin care. Only two studies applied theory and only one evaluated participant acceptability of interventions, making it difficult to assess the feasibility of implementation. Although the evidence reviewed provides some insight into the self-management of a lower limb wound, theoretically-guided research is needed in this area.

Offloading treatment in people with diabetic foot disease: A systematic scoping review on adherence to foot offloading.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: To identify measurement methods, proportions of adherent participants, factors affecting adherence, and concordance promoting interventions. METHODS: A systematic scoping review was conducted by searching Medline, CINAHL, PubMed, EMBASE, and EMCARE databases. RESULTS: Twenty-four trials were identified from 1001 citations. Only 25% of the included studies used objective methods to quantify adherence. The proportion of adherent participants (≥80% of daily steps/time) ranged from 28% to 60%. Psychosocial factors are the most common influencers of adherence. However, interventions for improving compliance are lacking. CONCLUSION: There is a need to accurately quantify and optimize adherence to foot offloading in people with diabetes.

The Impact of Type 2 Diabetes on Women's Health and Well-being During Their Reproductive Years: A Mixed-methods Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of Type 2 Diabetes (T2DM) among younger women now accounts for 40% of females with T2DM. Women of reproductive age with T2DM have additional health considerations and their needs may differ from older populations. OBJECTIVES: The aims were (1) to identify the health issues encountered by women aged 16-45 years living with T2DM; (2) to determine the modifiable risk factors associated with living with diabetes; (3) to specify ideas for interventions to meet age and gender-specific diabetes-related healthcare needs. METHODS: A systematic search was performed in the following databases; MEDLINE, PsycINFO, EMBASE, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Maternity and Infant Care. Databases were searched without time and study design limits. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool was used to assess the methodological quality of included studies. Data were narratively synthesised due to mixed methods evidence included. RESULTS: A total of 32 papers were included in the review from which six domains were identified from the synthesis: (1) diabetes related modifiable risk factors: blood glucose, cardiovascular risk, neuropathy/nephropathy/retinopathy, diabetes self-management barriers (2) reproductive health: diabetes care before pregnancy, pre-pregnancy care barriers and expectations of women, contraceptive use (3) psychosocial wellbeing: depression symptoms and diabetes distress, perception of T2DM, emotional concerns about pregnancy (4) sexual function; (5) menopause; (6) sociocultural factors: social support, cultural norms. CONCLUSION: This review highlighted specific health issues affecting women of reproductive age with T2DM and which represent an important focus for health services research and health care delivery. Future research needs to address identified health domains to improve women's health and well-being living with T2DM.

The Effects of Psychological Interventions on Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Psychological interventions are effective at ameliorating the experience of pain in conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and chronic back pain. However, their effect on diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) pain has yet to be established AIM: To assess the effectiveness of psychological interventions on pain and related outcomes in adults with DPN. DESIGN: Systematic review. SETTINGS: Community, hospital in-patient and out-patient. PARTICIPANTS/SUBJECTS: Adults with diabetic peripheral neuropathy. METHODS: Medline, Embase, PsychInfo, and CINAHL databases together with grey literature and trial registers were searched. A meta-analysis and narrative synthesis of included studies were undertaken. RESULTS: Nine studies were selected from 1610 citations. At short-term follow-up psychological therapies showed a large effect on pain severity (SMD = -0.94, 95%CI [-1.50, -0.37], p = .001), a small effect on pain interference (SMD = -0.39, 95%CI [-0.73, -0.05], p = .02), and a moderate effect on depressive symptoms (SMD = -0.58, 95%CI [-0.95, -0.21], p = .002). Quality of life significantly improved in experimental subjects, (MD = -2.35, 95%CI [-3.99, -0.71], p = .005). At medium-term follow-up there was a large effect on pain severity (SMD = -1.26, 95%CI [-1.76, -0.77], p < .00001) and on pain interference (SMD = -0.91, 95%CI [-1.61, -0.21], p = .01) and a moderate effect on depressive symptoms (SMD = -0.76, 95%CI [-1.48, -0.05], p = .04). At long-term follow-up, improvements in pain interference, mood, and self-care behaviors were reported. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate that the relationship between pain and perceived control identified in other groups who experience chronic pain may also be replicated in the DPN population. This is an important outcome that can guide further research and associated service developments.