Stepping up: impact of health education on diabetic foot Self-Care in a Resource-Limited tertiary care setting

Abstract

Up to 15% of patients with diabetes worldwide experience foot problems, which are the most frequent cause of their hospitalization. Proper foot care is essential to avoid these problems and enhance the patient’s quality of life. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a health education intervention on awareness and practice of foot self-care among diabetic patients. This study was conducted at the “Endocrinology Outpatient Clinic” of Tanta University Hospitals, Egypt. A hundred diabetic patients were recruited for the study and then divided into intervention and control groups. A baseline assessment of foot self-care awareness and practice was done for both groups using a structured questionnaire. The control group received their routine care provided by the clinic, while the intervention group received an additional health education program. All patients were reassessed after three months. In the intervention group, the total awareness score was improved from (9.49 ± 1.65) preprogram to (13.70 ± 2.37) post-program (p < 0.001). Also, the total score of practice was improved from (38.15 ± 6.30) preprogram to (53.47 ± 6.03) post-program (p < 0.001). The total score of awareness and practices revealed a significant positive correlation (r = 0.59). A large effect size was found for both after the intervention. The study demonstrated a notable lack of awareness and adherence to foot self-care measures among patients with diabetes, which were markedly improved after implementing a foot self-care educational program. So, a health education program must be incorporated as special sessions at outpatient clinics for patients with diabetes to lower the risk of diabetic foot problems in Egypt.