Diabetes Footcare in a Rural Community: Footcare Education and Outreach

Background: Foot care self-management is critical in continuity of care and in prevention of foot complications associated with diabetes. The purpose of this project was to help residents in a rural Canadian community gain a better understanding foot care self-management. Methods: This project aimed to implement and evaluate evidence-based education in self-foot care among adults in with diabetes or pre-diabetes who live in Vegreville. Educational sessions were held in person based on the framework of the Social Cognitive Theory. Recruitment occurred over five months in collaboration with community housing centers. The goals focused on evidenced based education in daily foot care and footwear. Data was collected from the pre and post intervention survey questionnaire. Results: Despite vigorous recruitment due to the pandemic, there were only three participants. Self-foot care practice changes were assessed using descriptive statistics and open-ended questions. Following footcare educational sessions, findings highlight increase frequency of examining feet and checking shoes. Overall, there was a 22% increase in knowledge in the post education intervention score based on the Nottingham Assessment of Functional Footcare Revised. Conclusions: Information about diabetes foot care self-maintenance has important public health and nursing implications. Evidence-based educational community approaches can be facilitated as outreach efforts to promote footcare outcomes among adults with diabetes or pre-diabetes. Future recommendations include continuing to advance this quality improvement project through informational sessions, nursing student education, continuing efforts in foot care in rural communities and to explore health service delivery education components within the community