Sociology

Qualitative research

Diabetic foot

PsycINFO

CINAHL

Social science

Family medicine

Diabetes mellitus

Endocrinology

Foot (prosody)

Nursing

Philosophy

Political science

Physical therapy

Psychological intervention

Diabetic foot ulcer

MEDLINE

Foot care

Linguistics

Medicine

International Wound Journal

Diabetic foot ulceration (DFU) is a common and debilitating complication of diabetes that is preventable through active engagement in appropriate foot‐related behaviours, yet many individuals with diabetes do not adhere to foot care recommendations. The aim of this paper was to synthesise the findings of qualitative papers exploring diabetic people's perceptions and experiences of DFU in order to identify how they could be better supported to prevent ulceration or manage its impact. Five databases (MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, EMBASE, Web of Science) were searched in May 2016 to identify eligible articles. Findings were synthesised using a meta‐ethnographic approach. Forty‐two articles were eligible for inclusion. Synthesis resulted in the development of five overarching themes: personal understandings of diabetic foot ulceration ; preventing diabetic foot ulceration: knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours ; views on health care experiences ; development of diabetic foot ulceration and actions taken ; and wide‐ranging impacts of diabetic foot ulceration . The findings highlight various barriers and facilitators of foot care experienced by people with diabetes and demonstrate the significant consequences of ulcers for their physical, social, and psychological well‐being. The insights provided could inform the development of interventions to promote foot care effectively and provide appropriate support to those living with ulceration.

Perceptions and experiences of diabetic foot ulceration and foot care in people with diabetes: A qualitative meta‐synthesis