Impact of multidisciplinary nursing interventions and blood glucose control on diabetic foot ulcer healing, patient emotions, and satisfaction

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) present a significant healthcare challenge attributable to their high rates of disability and the limitations of applied traditional nursing approaches. Effective management is critical for uneventful health outcomes.

AIM

To investigate the effects of multidisciplinary team (MDT) nursing interventions and blood glucose control on the negative emotions and satisfaction of DFU-healing patients.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study included 115 patients with DFUs, divided into MDT and blood glucose control intervention group (n = 60) and standard care control group (n = 55). The comparison factors were wound area, new granulation tissue coverage area, wound healing rate, 2-hour postprandial blood glucose level, fasting plasma glucose level, Hamilton Anxiety Scale score, Hamilton Depression Scale score, and nursing satisfaction.

RESULTS

After 4 weeks, the average wound area reduced from 22.04 ± 6.48 cm² to 11.96 ± 3.63 cm² (P < 0.05). New granulation tissue coverage area reached 52.85 ± 18.39 cm² for the intervention group and 28.39 ± 9.94 cm² (P < 0.05) in the control group, respectively. The healing rate was significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group (91.7% vs 76.4%, P < 0.05). Fasting plasma glucose decreased more sharply in the intervention group (from 8.36 ± 0.98 mmol/L to 6.91 ± 1.23 mmol/L) than in the control group (8.41 ± 1.05 mmol/L to 7.81 ± 1.27 mmol/L), with the intervention group maintaining significantly lower levels (P < 0.05). The intervention group demonstrated a significantly greater reduction in 2-hour postprandial blood glucose levels (11.35 ± 2.67 mmol/L to 7.52 ± 1.38 mmol/L) compared to the control group (11.61 ± 3.01 mmol/L to 8.72 ± 1.63 mmol/L; P < 0.05). Hamilton Anxiety Scale and Hamilton Depression Scale scores were significantly lower in the intervention group (P < 0.05). Patient satisfaction with nursing was 93.33% and 74.55% in the intervention and control groups, respectively (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

MDT combined with blood glucose control enhanced healing rates and positively influenced emotional well-being and satisfaction among patients. This strategy holds potential for application in clinical practice.

Keywords: Blood glucose control; Multidisciplinary team; Diabetic foot ulcer; Hamilton Anxiety Scale; Hamilton Depression Scale; Wound healing; Nursing satisfaction

Core Tip: Multidisciplinary team combined with blood glucose control significantly accelerated diabetic foot ulcer healing, with a higher healing rate (91.7% vs 76.4%) and an effective reduction in both fasting plasma glucose and 2-hour postprandial blood glucose levels. It positively affected the patients’ emotional well-being by alleviating anxiety and depression and enhancing nursing satisfaction (93.33% vs 74.55%, respectively). Therefore, multidisciplinary team combined with blood glucose control is an effective management strategy for diabetic foot ulcers and is worthy of further promotion and application in clinical practice.