Factors associated with foot ulcer self-management behaviors

In this cross-sectional design, researchers have identified self-management behaviors related to pre-hospitalized diabetes-related foot ulcers (DFUs) and examined the factors associated with these behaviors. A survey questionnaire was given to 199 hospitalized patients with DFU at a medical center in Northern Taiwan from June 2015 to June 2016. According to findings, 62.8% of participants never monitored their blood glucose level when they had foot ulcers, and 63.8% did not seek treatment for their wounds when their wounds were not painful. Data reported that DFU self-management behaviors were not enough. Following the control of demographic and medical variables, multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that the following 8 significant variables were related to DFU self-management behaviors: two DFU self-management barrier beliefs, foot self-care behavior, no treatment for diabetes, poor financial status, employment, knowledge regarding the warning signs of DFU deterioration, and number of DFU hospitalizations. They concluded that some modifiable factors and high-risk groups have been identified for inadequate DFU self-management behavior.