Comparative Study of the Physical Self-concept and Foot Care Self-efficacy in Non-insulin-dependent Diabetic Patients with and Without Diabetic Foot Ulcers

In the hospital, diabetic foot ulcer is the most common cause of hospitalization of diabetic patients and the most common cause of non-traumatic lower limb amputation, which leads to increased health costs. The present study was conducted with the aim of investigating the relationship between self-efficacy beliefs in foot care and physical self concept in people with diabetes.

Method and Materials: 

This study was descriptive-cross-sectional. Participants who were suffering from diabetes and referring to specialized Ahmadieh clinic of Torbat Hehdarieh of Khorasan province in Iran were assessed. They were selected through systematic random sampling method. Participants completed a self-report foot Care Self-efficacy (FCS) questionnaire. Data were analyses using SPSS 24.

There was a positive and relatively strong relationship between foot care self-efficacy and physical self-concept in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus with and without diabetic foot ulcers (P<0.001) respectively. There was no relationship between foot care self-efficacy, body self-concept, except the duration of the disease and age, which had a negative and weak relationship with other variables (p>0.05).

  This study showed the non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus patients who have better  physical self-concept had  higher foot care self-efficacy.