Effect of integrating health belief model in a prophylactic diabetic foot care program on knowledge, believes, practices and risk for foot ulcer of diabetic elderly

ABSTRACT: Diabetic food ulcer is one of the most prevalent long-term diabetic consequences,
which has a significant financial and social impact on people, families, and the health system. It's
also long-term consequence account for direct medical expenditures and lengthy periods of
disability. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of integrating health belief model in a
prophylactic diabetic foot care program on knowledge, beliefs, practices and risk for foot ulcer of
diabetic elderly. Methodology: A quasi-experimental research design was utilized in this
research. It was done at the medical outpatient clinics affiliated to Tanta University Hospitals. A
purposeful sample of 300 older people with diabetes was selected. Two tools were utilized for
data gathering. A structured interview schedule was the first tool with questions about the sociodemographics of senior patients, knowledge, reported practices, and perceived believes of
diabetic elderly about foot ulcer. Second tool: A neurological foot and peripheral vascular
examination was used as an assessment checklist to determine the risk of foot ulcers. Results
showed a statistically significant improvement in elderly total knowledge (7% to 85.30%),
reported practice (40.30% to 93.30%), total perceived beliefs (34.2455 to 44.9000)
correspondingly pretest compared posttest. The degree of knowledge, reported practice,
perceived believes, and foot ulcer risk scale of older diabetic patients improved after
implementing the preventative diabetic foot care program. Conclusion and recommendation:
there was a positive correlation between knowledge, reported practices, neurological and
peripheral vascular risk exposure post applying program. Application of further research on large
samples and other settings for generalization