Thi Phuong Lan Nguyen
Queensland University of Technology, Australia
Title: Diabetic foot ulcer primary prevention in vietnam – A longitudinal evaluation of a theory based foot care education intervention programme
Biography
Biography: Thi Phuong Lan Nguyen
Abstract
Statement of Problem: The burden of diabetic foot ulcers is enormous and Vietnam is not exempt from this issue. Up to 85% of foot ulcers can be prevented, however, in most cases, early-stage prevention strategies have not been a focus.
Aim: The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a self-efficacy theory (SET) based foot care education intervention program. The program examined foot self-care behavior and common minor foot problems among patients at low risk of diabetic foot ulcers in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Method: A quasi-experimental design with 2 groups, using pre-and post-tests was used. From the 119 participants, 60 participants in the control group received usual care and a foot care brochure. Those in the intervention group received: 60-75 minutes of a small group intensive education and hands-on skills session; a foot care kit and documents and three regular booster follow-up phone calls over 6 months. A generalized estimating equations model was undertaken to examine the impact of the intervention on foot self-care behaviors and prevalence of common minor foot problems (i.e. dry skin, corns/callus) over 6 months from baseline after adjusting covariates.
Result: The intervention group had significantly improved outcomes compared to the control group over 6 months in the following aspects: Better preventive foot care behavior (p=0.001); decreased prevalence of common minor foot problems (i.e. dry skin, corns/callus) [OR: 0.04, 95% CI: 0.01-0.13, p<0.001). However, reduction in potentially damaging behavior was not found significantly different between groups over the study period (p=0.09).
Conclusion & Significance: The study’s findings provide evidence for the effectiveness of a theory-based education intervention on improving foot self-care behavior and preventing minor foot problems what commonly precede diabetic foot ulcers. Further study with a RCT design, in a larger sample of patients and longer follow-up time is recommended.
