Survey of the foot care status in type II diabetic patients: application of the theory of Planned Behavior

Among the complications of diabetes, foot problems such as ulcers, infections of the feet and lower limb amputation is increasing due to nonconformity of safety and preventive issues. Therefore, this study has been conducted with the aim to evaluate the foot care status based on the theory of Planned Behavior in diabetic patients. In this cross-sectional study, 69 type II diabetic patients referred to the Golestan Hospital Diabetes Clinic of Ahvaz during a three months period from June to September 2013 were selected randomly. Data were collected by means of a three-parts researcher made questionnaire(59 items) including medical and demographic data, knowledge, planned theory’s structures (attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control and intention) and foot care performance were evaluated. The findings showed that 53.6% of participants had poor knowledge in foot care practices, whereas 79.71% had high attitudes toward these practices. 52.17% reported pressures and social support in high level and 52.1% stated an average level of the control on foot care practices. 79.7% had a high intention toward these practices, while 43.4% had poor performance. Also, the results showed that there is a direct and significant correlation between the mean of knowledge and performance and all theory's structures (P<0.05). The results of this study emphasis on necessity attention to a series of effective factors in diabetic patient's behavior change and could be the basis for developing theory-based educational interventions with the aim of improving the foot care.