Dyadic Stigmatic Experience of Patients with Chronic Wounds and Their Family Caregivers: A Qualitative Study

Abstract Background Current research on stigma among patients with Chronic wounds (CW) primarily focuses on the individual level and neglects the dyadic stigmatization relationship between patients and their family caregivers. Besides, China's unique family culture and care background can influence how patients with CW and their family caregivers perceive stigma, which may create a unique dyadic stigmatic experience of such patients and their family caregivers, distinct from other countries. Aims In this way, the dyadic stigmatic experience of patients with CW and their family caregivers could be qualitatively analyzed, with the aim of helping healthcare professionals accurately identify and assess the psychological needs of patients and their family caregivers in clinical practice. Methods and Results This study used a qualitative descriptive approach based on semi-structured interviews. Purposive sampling was used to recruit 12 pairs of patients and their family caregivers between April 2022 and October 2023. The dyadic stigmatic experience among patients with CW and their family caregivers was summarized as trigger stage, internalization stage, development and reinforcement stage (self-blame and guilt, and synchronized social isolation), and stabilization stage (long-term psychological adaptation of patients, helplessness of family caregivers providing long-term care, and pull together in times of trouble). Conclusions This study increases the in-depth understanding of the psychological struggles and behavioral changes of both patients and caregivers when suffer from stigma through qualitative study. The results not only enrich the understanding of dyadic stigmatic phenomenon among patients with CW and their family caregivers but also provide important theoretical foundations for improving the overall health of patients with CW and their caregivers and providing social support for them.