EXPLORING FAMILY EMPOWERMENT EXPERIENCES IN THE PREVENTION OF DIABETIC FOOT ULCERS: A THEMATIC ANALYSIS STUDY

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to explore in depth the experiences of families in caring for relatives with Diabetes Mellitus (DM), particularly in preventing Diabetic Foot Ulcers (DFU). Family involvement plays a crucial role in successful diabetes management, especially in developing countries such as Indonesia, where formal healthcare supervision is often limited. However, family empowerment in diabetes care remains largely practical and lacks a structured and comprehensive approach. Methods: This study employed a qualitative design using thematic analysis. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with six family caregivers of patients with type 2 diabetes, selected via purposive sampling. The interview guide explored family understanding of DM, caregiving roles, encountered challenges, sources of health information, educational needs, and self-efficacy in preventing complications. Data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s six-phase thematic analysis framework. Results: Six major themes emerged: (1) limited family understanding of DM as merely a “sugar disease”; (2) practical caregiving roles in daily management; (3) major challenges related to patients’ low adherence and intra-family disagreements; (4) reliance on community health centers and social media as primary information sources; (5) strong needs for interactive, visual, and digital-based education; and (6) positive family self-efficacy in preventing complications despite requiring sustained professional support. Conclusion: Family empowerment in diabetes care remains fragmented and behavior-oriented. A participatory, continuous, and digitally supported health education approach is essential to strengthen family capacity for effective DFU prevention.