# Experiences and needs of individuals living with diabetic peripheral neuropathy: a qualitative systematic review and meta-synthesis

## TL;DR

This study explores the experiences and needs of people with diabetic peripheral neuropathy to help healthcare providers improve care and support.

## Contribution

A qualitative meta-synthesis revealing new insights into patients' lived experiences and unmet needs related to diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

## Key findings

- Four main themes and 11 subthemes were identified from patient experiences with DPN.
- Patients emphasized the need for better foot care education and individualized interventions.
- Emotional factors like self-compassion and pain catastrophizing were highlighted as important aspects of care.

## Abstract

This study synthesises qualitative literature on the lived experiences of patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) during their illness, aiming to help healthcare professionals understand patients’ emotional perspectives and perceived needs, thereby facilitating the development of more effective medical interventions.

The Joanna Briggs Institute meta-synthesis method was used to analyse the 10 included qualitative studies.

By synthesising the original studies, four themes and 11 subthemes were extracted, comprehensively analysing patients’ symptom experiences, physical-psychological-social impacts, self-management strategies, and needs.

Healthcare professionals should emphasise foot care education, understand the connotations of self-compassion and pain catastrophizing, and develop individualised interventions for different populations to enhance patients’ self-care abilities and improve their wellbeing.

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420251051721, Unique Identifier: CRD420251051721.