Mobile phone text messaging to improve knowledge and practice of diabetic foot care in a developing country: Feasibility and outcomes

To test the feasibility and effectiveness of using mobile phone text messaging to reinforce learning and the practice of diabetic foot care in a developing country.

Ongoing learning reinforcement (2-3 times weekly) by text messaging followed an informal class on diabetic foot care in a community clinic setting. Subjects with cell phone access and no history of diabetic foot wounds or current wounds were recruited for participation (N = 225). Foot examinations and pretesting by survey occurred just before patients departed the clinic; the posttest survey and a final foot examination occurred 12 weeks later. The survey included basic demographic items along with items to measure knowledge and current foot care practices. One sample t tests (raw scores) and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests compared knowledge and practice before and after intervention.

Initially, a majority of the sample (76%) reported poor levels of foot care. After 12 weeks <1% reported poor foot care practices. Statistical testing showed significant gains in knowledge (by score and level) and nearly unanimous compliance with daily foot examination.

Mobile phone text messaging is an economical, feasible, and effective method for educators to improve diabetic self-care, even in a developing country.