title: The efficacy of diabetic foot care education.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To survey the efficacy of education about factors that influence the learning process and behaviour of diabetics following a nursing interventional project in diabetic foot care education.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Educating diabetics can change their behaviour, which may contribute to the prevention of diabetic foot ulcer and amputation. However, there is little information on the factors that contribute to effectiveness of foot care education.
  
  
  METHODS
  Survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  The data before education were collected by using structured assessment based on a practical reasoning scheme. The interventional diabetic foot care education project immediately followed. We used verbal and written patient education material. After education (six months), we used a questionnaire by postadministration. The data were analysed using content analysis, descriptive statistics and inferential statistics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We discovered a rise of knowledge, willingness and motivation to learn and to change the behaviour of diabetics after education. The clinical parameters (weight, Body Mass Index, blood pressure) demonstrated a statistically significant positive change six months after education.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings after education show a rise in knowledge, willingness and motivation, which are important factors that contribute to changing behaviour of diabetics in diabetic foot care. After education, we identified better results in terms of weight and blood pressure, both of which play a role in the prevention of diabetic ulcer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The education valuable tool ensures knowledge, motivation and willingness to change behaviour in order to prevent diabetic foot complications of diabetics. By using structured assessment, nurses are able to modify their educational interventions.
authors.affiliation: Nursing Department, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Comenius University in Bratislava, Martin, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Jana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nemcová
authors.forename: Edita
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hlinková
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012648:Self Care
keywords: diabetic foot; education; efficacy