A fact-finding survey on self-efficacy of foot care behaviour in patients with diabetes: Analysis using the Diabetes Study from the Center of Tokyo Women's Medical University 2017 (DIACET 2017).

AIM: We aimed to determine the association between self-efficacy of foot care behaviour and chronic complications in Japanese patients with diabetes.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional study based on a questionnaire survey of 4571 patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes who had (a) given consent to participate in the Diabetes Study from the Center of Tokyo Women's Medical University: DIACET 2017, and (b) completed all the questions of the Japanese Version of Foot Care Confidence Scale (J-FCCS), consisting of 12 statements.

RESULTS

A greater proportion of respondents answered that they were not confident in determining the condition of corns and/or calluses and the condition of toenails. The J-FCCS total scores of the patients with retinopathy (p <.001) and numbness or pain in the feet (p <.001) were significantly lower than those of the patients without these complications. In both the multiple regression analysis and logistic regression analysis, lower J-FCCS was significantly associated with retinopathy and numbness or pain in the feet.

CONCLUSION

Foot care education that emphasizes a psychological approach in improving confidence associated with foot self-care is important for patients with advanced complications of diabetes.