The effect of educational programme based on Health Belief Model (HBM) on the foot care by type II diabetic patients

Diabetes a major threat fo public health today and deaths resulting from its later complications such as diabetic foot, have increased alarmingly, causing physical and emotional problems and disability for diabetic patients. The current strategy for prevention of diabetic foot prevention is health education. This study was conducted to assess effects of educational interventions based on the HBM model used in food care by type 2 diabtetic patients. This is an interventional study in which 108 type 2 diabetic patients attending the the Kermanshah diabetic centre participated. They were randomly divided into the case and control groups. For data collection by interview a questionnaire consisting of 59 questions arranged in 5 sections including the demographic HBM model parts (perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers) and also cues of action foot care at home (self-reporting) and the checklist section was used. Realibility and validity of this questionnaire was confirmed before the study. Educational interventions based on HBM model were implemented in three 60 minute-sessions after completion of questionnaires and the data was again collected after one month. Findings showed means for knowledge, perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, mean grades were at average levels and whereas the foot care mean grade was below average. After intervention, however, the results demonstrated that knowledge, perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, action and checklist mean grades in type 2 diabetic patients increased significantly in the case group. The findings of this study showed that foot care increased when knowledge, perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, elevated. These study results confirm the effectiveness and influence of the use of the HBM model in foot care by type 2 diabetic patients.