Examination of Complementary and Supportive Practices and Self-efficacy Against Foot Ulcers in Diabetic Patients.

CONTEXT: Medical treatment is critical in the healing of diabetic foot ulcers. Diabetic patients in many countries have recently started using complementary and supportive practices.

OBJECTIVES

The study intended to examine the complementary and supportive medical practices and their self-efficacy against foot ulcers that can develop in diabetic patients.

DESIGN

The research team conducted a cross-sectional and descriptive study.

SETTING

The study took place at internal-medicine outpatient clinics at a hospital in Turkey.

PARTICIPANTS

Participants were 656 diabetes patients who came the clinics between March and May 2021.

OUTCOME MEASURES: The research team collected data with a structured questionnaire and the Diabetic Foot Care Self-efficacy Scale (DFCSES).

RESULTS

Significant differences existed in gender, educational status, and average income level as well as between the (CAM) users and non-CAM A statistically significant difference existed between users and non-users of CAM. Users diabetes treatment type, go to regular doctor check-up, had other chronic disease, had a foot problem, regularly did leg and foot gymnastics, regularly did foot examination and often did foot examination.

CONCLUSIONS

The most popular products among CAM users were herbal products: Nigella sativa, Nigella sativa oil, cinnamon, and cinnamon oil. The mean scores for non-users of CAM were lower on the DFCSES.