Educational Interventions on Diabetic Foot Self-Care: A Study Protocol for a Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Trial

Area of Science:

• Diabetology
• Public Health
• Patient Education

Background:

• Diabetic foot complications, including ulcers and amputations, are serious and linked to inadequate foot care.
• Effective patient education is crucial for promoting self-care behaviors and improving quality of life in individuals with diabetes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of two distinct educational strategies on diabetic foot care knowledge, adherence, and patient perception.
• To compare an instructive video and a guided leaflet reading intervention against standard care in managing diabetic foot health.

Main Methods:

• A pragmatic randomized controlled trial involving participants with diabetic foot diagnoses from two hospitals in Northern Portugal.
• Participants were assigned to an instructive video, guided leaflet reading, or standard care group.
• Assessments were conducted at baseline, two weeks, and three months post-intervention.

Main Results:

• The study protocol is designed to analyze the primary outcomes of adherence and knowledge regarding diabetic foot care.
• Secondary outcomes include assessing patients' perceptions of their foot health and illness representations.
• Results will inform the development of effective educational interventions for diabetic foot care.

Conclusions:

• Educational interventions hold significant potential to reduce diabetic foot ulcers and amputation rates.
• Improved foot care adherence and patient knowledge can lead to better health outcomes and reduced healthcare costs.
• This research aims to optimize educational strategies to enhance the quality of life for individuals with diabetic foot conditions.