Instruments for measuring diabetic foot self-care behavior: a systematic review of measurement properties

To synthesize and critically evaluate the psychometric properties of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) designed to assess diabetic foot self-care behaviors.

A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Cochrane databases up to February 2024. Eligible studies included adults (≥18 years) with diabetes who could independently perform daily foot care, and only instruments assessing self-reported foot care practices were included. Studies were excluded if diabetes was not the primary condition, instruments were unrelated, or full-text data were unavailable. The methodological quality and measurement properties of these instruments were assessed using the COSMIN checklist and a modified GRADE approach.

Seven self-report instruments for assessing diabetic foot self-care were identified across 16 studies. The review found considerable variability in the methodological quality and psychometric robustness of the included PROMs. The Diabetic Foot Self-Care Questionnaire (DFSQ) consistently showed adequate content validity, structural validity, and internal consistency, and was validated across several cultural context.

Despite generally adequate psychometric properties, the evidence is limited by small and variable sample sizes, lack of longitudinal data, incomplete cross-cultural representation, and potential publication bias. Overall, the DFSQ demonstrated the most robust psychometric properties and recommended as a reliable and valid tool for assessing diabetic foot self-care behaviors in both research and clinical practice.