Foot
Conditions
Keywords
foot care, older adults, senior center, self-management, self-care
Brief summary
This pilot study will make a preliminary evaluation of the efficacy of 2 Feet 4 Life, a foot care self-management program, on foot care knowledge, foot care self-efficacy, foot care behaviors, and foot pain in community dwelling older adults without diabetes mellitus.
Detailed description
One in three older adults have foot problems such as bunions, corns, calluses, foot pain, or nail disorders, but those problems are often ignored or overlooked until they threaten mobility or quality of life. With proper self-management, skin and nail problems can be addressed before they become severe; however, older adults without diabetes are not routinely informed of self-management techniques unless they consult a specialist. Targeting a foot care self-management program to community-dwelling older adults without diabetes may not only enhance foot function and preserve independence but also reach older adults with limited healthcare access. Study participants will be 24 nondiabetic older adults recruited from two Midwestern community senior centers. One community center will be randomized to receive the intervention, 2 Feet 4 Life, the other will be a true control group receiving no intervention. The 2 Feet 4 Life foot care self-management program is based on Social Cognitive Theory and will be delivered in four weekly, one-hour group sessions. The program includes self-management teaching, interactive lecture, and group activities, including instruction, demonstration, and practice of routine foot care. In addition to usual lecture and handouts, 2 Feet 4 Life will rely on group interaction, practice opportunities, and the provision of foot care supplies so participants can perform foot care at home. Program topics include appropriate foot hygiene and footwear, identification and treatment of common foot problems, demonstration of proper foot care with opportunities for practice and instructor feedback, and guidance in obtaining appropriate footwear. Outcome measures will be assessed pre-intervention, immediately post-intervention, three months post-intervention, and six months post-intervention. This will be the first study to test a nurse run, community-based, foot care self-management program for non-diabetic older adults.
Interventions
BEHAVIORAL2 Feet 4 Life
2 Feet 4 Life consists of four weekly group intervention sessions of one hour each. 2 Feet 4 Life includes self-management teaching, interactive lecture, and group activities, including instruction and demonstration of routine foot care. The program includes education regarding appropriate footwear and how to find it, evidenced based practices on hygiene, skin care and self-care of the lower extremities, nail trimming and filing, and care of common foot problems.
Sponsors
University of Missouri-Columbia
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
65 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* 65 years of age or older * legally competent to sign informed consent * willing to participate in the study
Exclusion criteria
* self-reports of diabetes * non-traumatic amputation * legal blindness. * demonstrated inability to see and remove dot stickers on the feet * active ingrown toenails * absent pedal pulses * poor sensation as defined by the inability to feel more than 3 of 10 foot sites touched with a microfilament * regular visits to a healthcare professional for foot care * score of \<2 on the mental status screener.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Foot Self-Care Knowledge Questionnaire | Baseline, one month, three months, six months | 0-11 scale with higher numbers indicating more knowledge |
| Foot Care Confidence Scale | Baseline, one month, three months, six months | 12-60 scale with greater scores indicating greater self-efficacy |
| Nottingham Assessment of Functional Foot Care | Baseline, one month, three months, six months | Scale of 0-87 with higher scores revealing more appropriate foot self-care |
| Manchester Foot Pain and Disability INdex | Baseline, one month, three months, six months | 0-34 scale with higher scores indicating more pain and disability |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Foot Health Score | Baseline, one month, three months, six months | Scale 0-90 provider assessment of foot problems. Higher score indicate more severe foot problems and greater severity. |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed