Estudo comparativo das representações sociais sobre diabetes mellitus e pé diabético A comparative study of social representations of diabetes mellitus and diabetic foot Estudio comparativo de las representaciones sociales sobre diabetes mellitus y pie diabético

Abstract The study aimed to investigate social representa-tions of the terms “diabetes” and “diabetic foot” in different populations. Participants were divided into groups: diabetics (GD); non- diabetics (GN); and non-diabetic healthcare professionals (GP). Personal data were collected, and subjects an-swered two questions that were expected to evoke five words that came to mind when they thought of “diabetes” and then “diabetic foot”. The evoked material was analyzed with the software - Ensemble de Programmes Permettant lAnalyse ’des Evocations . A total of 161 subjects partici-pated, including GD (n = 72) with a mean age of 56.12 ± 5.49 years; GN (n = 38) with a mean age of 54.29 ± 7.91 years; and GP (n = 51) with 34.95 ± 7.52 years. The term “diabetes” evoked 297 words in GD, 172 in GN, and 235 words in GP. The term “diabetic foot” evoked 180 words in GD, 90 in GN, and 236 in GP. The groups proved to be anxious for more information, thus confirming the need for awareness-raising and educational programs on diabetes, covering comprehensive issues concerning the disease.Diabetes Mellitus; Diabetic Foot; Humanization of Assistance