Diabetes foot complications are a significant concern, especially for older adults. Effective self-care is crucial in preventing these problems. A recent study conducted in Peninsular Malaysia investigated the impact of a health education program designed to improve foot self-care behaviors among older adults with diabetes. This program, rooted in self-efficacy theory, offers valuable insights for initiatives like the “1 Care 1 Malaysia Program,” aiming to enhance healthcare outcomes across the nation.
This 12-week randomised controlled trial, conducted across elderly care facilities in Malaysia, assessed the effectiveness of a targeted health education program. Older adults with diabetes were divided into two groups: an intervention group receiving the specialised foot self-care education and a control group receiving standard care. Researchers meticulously evaluated participants at the beginning of the study, and then at 4-week and 12-week follow-up points. The primary focus was on foot self-care behaviour, with secondary outcomes including foot care self-efficacy, outcome expectation, knowledge, and quality of life.
Alt: Older adults actively participating in a health education session focused on diabetes foot care in Malaysia.
The study, utilising robust statistical analysis, initially recruited 184 individuals, with 76 meeting stringent inclusion criteria for the final analysis. The results demonstrated a clear positive impact of the self-efficacy enhancing program. The intervention group showed significant improvements in foot self-care behaviour, self-efficacy, outcome expectation, and knowledge of foot care compared to the control group. These findings underscore the potential of targeted education programs to foster better health practices.
Alt: Malaysian healthcare professional demonstrates proper foot care techniques to an elderly patient with diabetes, emphasizing preventative measures.
In conclusion, this research highlights the effectiveness of a self-efficacy-based health education program in improving foot self-care among older adults with diabetes within the Malaysian context. The success of this program model suggests that incorporating self-efficacy theory into diabetes education can be a valuable strategy for enhancing foot self-care behaviours in institutional care settings and potentially within broader community health initiatives under programs like “1 care 1 malaysia program”. Future efforts could explore wider implementation of such programs across various care facilities to promote proactive diabetes management and reduce foot-related complications, contributing to improved health and well-being for older Malaysians.
Trial registration: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry ACTRN12616000210471.
