Effect of a Self-Management Support Program on Diabetic Foot Care Behaviors

Abstract

Diabetic Foot Care Behaviors (DFCB) is the fundamental component of diabetic foot complications prevention. Many diabetic patients, however, did not perform foot care properly. Furthermore, Self-Management (SM) support program was noted as effective approach improving diabetes patients’ behaviors. Unfortunately, there have been no studies published applied this approach to improve DFCB in Indonesia. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of a self-management support program in improving DFCB in patients with diabetes mellitus in West Java, Indonesia. Quasi-experimental study was conducted with seventy subjects who randomly assigned either to an experimental (n = 35) or a control group (n = 35). The subjects in the experimental group received a five-week diabetic foot care SM support program. The subjects in the control group received standard care. Their DFCB was evaluated in the fifth week of intervention using a DFCB Questionnaire. The results showed that the DFCB in the experimental group was significantly higher (M = 67.43, SD = 5.83) than that in the control group (M = 52.60, SD = 8.6) (p<0.001). The result indicates that a five-week SM program effectively enhanced DFCB. Thus, nurses are recommended to apply this program in improving DFCB in order to prevent diabetic foot ulcers or other foot complications.