Efficacy of an Intervention Based on the Theory of Planned Behavior on Foot Care Performance in Type II Diabetic Patients

Abstract

Background: It is known that health education on foot care is a common strategy for preventing diabetic foot and reducing the rate of lower limb amputation. Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of an intervention based on the theory of planned behavior for improving foot care in patients with type II diabetes in 2013 in Ahvaz, Iran. Patients and Methods: In this clinical trial, 69 patients (30 - 60 years old) who were referred to Golestan Hospital Diabetes Clinic between June and May 2013 were selected randomly and divided into 2 groups (intervention and control). The control group received the clinic’s routine training. In contrast, a 4-week educational program based on the theory of planned behavior was held for the intervention group. Data were collected before and after the intervention using a questionnaire developed for this study that assessed components of the theory of planned behavior, and foot care. Data were analyzed with SPSS version 19 using paired and independent t-tests and chi-squared. Results: The two groups showed no significant difference in terms of demographics or in the mean scores of other variables before the intervention (P > 0.05). After the intervention, a significant increase was observed in the mean scores of attitudes, and foot care performance in the intervention group, and the intervention group had higher scores than did the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusions: An intervention based on the theory of planned behavior was effective in improving the foot care in diabetic patients.