The effectiveness of foot care education on people with type 2 diabetes in Tehran, Iran

Vatankhah, Nasibeh; Khamseh, Mohammad Ebrahim; Jahangiri Noudeh, Younes; Aghili, Rokhsareh; Baradaran, Hamid Reza; Safai Haeri, Nami

doi:10.1016/j.pcd.2009.05.003

« Previous Next »Primary Care Diabetes
Volume 3, Issue 2 , Pages 73-77, May 2009

The effectiveness of foot care education on people with type 2 diabetes in Tehran, Iran

Nasibeh Vatankhah
- Education & Development Center (EDC), Gifted and Talented Students Council, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Chamran Exp. Way, Hemmat Exp. Way, P.O. Box 14155-5983, Tehran, 14496, Iran
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +98 21 88052252/98 9123591276 (mobile); fax: +98 21 88052967.
Mohammad Ebrahim Khamseh
- Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), Valiasr Sq., Behafarin St., Tehran, Iran
Younes Jahangiri Noudeh
- Medical Student Research Committee (MSRC), Faculty of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), Chamran Exp. Way, Hemmat Exp. Way, Tehran, Iran
Rokhsareh Aghili
- Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), Valiasr Sq., Behafarin St., Tehran, Iran
Hamid Reza Baradaran
- Department of Epidemiology/Medical Education & Development Centre, Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), Chamran Exp. Way, Hemmat Exp. Way, Tehran, Iran
Nami Safai Haeri
- Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), Valiasr Sq., Behafarin St., Tehran, Iran

Received 31 December 2008; received in revised form 24 April 2009; accepted 13 May 2009. published online 15 June 2009.

Abstract

Aim

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of a simple educational program on the knowledge and practice of people with type 2 diabetes in relation to the foot at risk in Tehran, Iran.

Methods

One hundred and forty-eight people with type 2 diabetes underwent a structured interview using a 32-item designed questionnaire (DiFoKaPS-32) about their knowledge of foot care standards in diabetes and their personal foot care behaviours. Each participant in the study received a single 20min education session individually. The mode of the intervention was face-to-face.

Results

The applied educational intervention aimed at patients with type 2 diabetes has improved their knowledge and practice about diabetic foot care (P<0.0001 and P=0.011; Wilcoxon Signed Ranks test, respectively). Knowledge and practice scores were increased significantly after the education in the lean group (BMI≤25) rather than the obese ones.

Conclusions

In conclusion the findings of our study have shown that a simple face-to-face education is an effective and applied method to improve the knowledge about foot care. It has also shown that it could increase the motivation and change the behaviour of people with type 2 diabetes regarding their feet. In addition, the obese patients referring to a diabetic clinic need much more attentions and tighter care programs.

Keywords: Diabetes, Diabetic foot, Foot care, Education, Knowledge, Practice