Authors: (including presenting author): :
Tam KLR
Affiliation: :
(1) Diabetic Centre, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital (2) Master of Nursing in Community Health Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Keyword 1: :
Diabetes Foot Care
Keyword 4: :
Self-awareness
Keyword 5: :
Foot Care Habit
Introduction: :
Diabetic foot disease is a clinical manifestation of diabetic neuropathy and peripheral artery disease. Many patients with diabetes neglect early symptoms, which lead to irreversible consequences; however, the condition is largely preventable. Education and care strategies represent the most cost-effective approaches in preventing the development of diabetic foot diseases. Nevertheless, existing studies have often overlooked the importance of behavioral change and adherence levels among diabetic patients. Therefore, a foot self-care tele-education program is necessary to promote and enhance patients' foot self-care awareness and prevent diabetic foot disease.
Objectives: :
1. Enhance diabetic patients’ knowledge, attitude, and practice toward diabetic foot care and disease prevention. 2. Enhance patients’ adherence and self-efficacy to foot self-care practices. 3. Develop a foot self-care habit and educational leaflets to promote foot care.
Methodology: :
Participants were recruited through purposive sampling during Metabolic Risk Assessment (MRA) Screening at the Diabetes Center. Patients were excluded if they were mentally impaired, unable to use telehealth platforms, currently following up with a wound nurse, or had recently attended a foot education program. The tele-education program was divided into two phases: (1) a tele-educational talk teaching patients about diabetic foot care, and (2) a motivational interview promoting foot self-care adherence. Both phases were evaluated using a validated pre- and post-questionnaire.
Result & Outcome: :
The intervention included 30 diabetic patients (18 females and 12 males) aged 18 or above with foot care problems. After implementing the program, the mean score assessing participants’ knowledge (Pre-test: 2.8/6; Post-test: 5.6/6), attitude (Pre-test: 2.3/4; Post-test: 3.7/4), and practice (Pre-test: 5.7/12; Post-test: 10.4/12) of diabetic foot care have increased. Also, participants have formed a habit of foot self-care after receiving motivational interviewing, as evidenced by the increased mean score of the self-reported habit index from 2.2/5 to 3/5. This program is essential for disseminating evidence-based diabetic foot care knowledge and employing motivational interviewing techniques to promote sustained foot self-care practices. The significance of this initiative encompasses multiple dimensions: enhancing patients' knowledge and awareness through accessible telehealth education, utilizing evidence-based motivational interviewing interventions to identify and address barriers to care, and promoting consistency and adherence to foot care habit. Ultimately, this approach has the potential to improve patients' quality of life, strengthen therapeutic nurse-patient relationships, and reduce the long-term healthcare burden.
