Self-efficacy of foot self care behaviour of elderly with diabetes / Maizatul Nadwa Mohd Razi and Nur Fadilah Abdul Rashid

Background : Diabetes progressively increasing among people older than 55 years old with approximately a half case of all diabetes. One of long term complications is foot problems that greatly be a burdened among elderly with diabetes. Foot selfefficacy and foot self-care behaviour plays an important role in reducing the rate of diabetic foot problems. Objectives : This research aimed to determine the foot self-efficacy level of elderly with diabetes, to determine the foot self-care behaviour of elderly with diabetes and also to examine the association between foot self-efficacy and foot self-care behaviour. Method : Cross sectional study was conducted at Medical Ward, Surgical Ward, Orthopaedic Ward and Diabetic Clinic of selected hospitals for diabetic patients in Hospital Sungai Buloh and Hospital Kuala Lumpur from May to June 2015. The Foot Care Confidence Scale (FCCS) and the Diabetes Foot Self Care Behaviour scale survey instruments were distributed to individuals over 60 years old with diabetes. A total of 152 diabetic patients participated in this study. Results : The overall result of this study indicated that elderly with high level of foot self-efficacy has better foot self-care behaviour. For level of foot self-efficacy the (mean =40.56, SD=9.482) which was moderately low level and for level of foot selfcare behaviour (mean=47.37, SD=8.725) indicates moderately high level. There was significantly correlation between foot self-efficacy with foot self-care behavior as r=0.629 and p-value<0.05. Thus, this result emphasize that elderly with high level of confident has better foot self-care behavior. Conclusion : The finding shows foot self-efficacy is an important determinant for foot self-care behaviour. The optimal approach to improve foot self-efficacy and increased foot self-care behaviour among elderly with diabetes is by regular screening, appropriate patient education and organizing campaign and awareness in hospital by expertise. Special nursing investigation should be conducted to improve foot self-efficacy and foot self-care behaviour. Besides, self-efficacy can be incorporated in diabetes education of foot self-care behaviour. Patient should be educate about the footwear and pumice stone because this items were high risk in developing foot problem.