Personality and relational determinants of following physicians’ instructions in patients with mixed diabetic foot syndrome

Teresa Rzepa , Magdalena Kucun , Lidia Cierpiałkowska , Michal Goran Stanišić

Abstract

Introduction. The aim of study was to verify of the connection between personality and relational factors, and obeying physicians’ orders by the patients with diabetic foot syndrome (DFS). Material and methods. The impact of the following factors was assessed: therapeutic alliance between the physician and the patient, health locus of control, stress coping style, image of one’s disease, and demographic data. The study involved thirty (30) type 2 diabetes patients, treated in outpatients clinics, threatened with limb amputation due to the concurrent mixed diabetic foot syndrome. Results. The statistical analysis revealed a correlation between following physicians’ instructions and the strength of the therapeutic alliance and the task-oriented stress coping style. Conclusions. The obtained research results may be the basis for any subsequent modification of treatment modalities of the diabetic foot syndrome.