title: Type 2 diabetes-related foot care knowledge and foot self-care practice interventions in the United States: a systematic review of the literature.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this systematic literature review is to review published studies on foot care knowledge and foot care practice interventions as part of diabetic foot care self-management interventions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medline, CINAHL, CENTRAL, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases were searched. References from the included studies were reviewed to identify any missing studies that could be included. Only foot care knowledge and foot care practice intervention studies that focused on the person living with type 2 diabetes were included in this review. Author, study design, sample, intervention, and results were extracted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty studies met the inclusion criteria and were classified according to randomized controlled trial (n=9), survey design (n=13), cohort studies (n=4), cross-sectional studies (n=2), qualitative studies (n=2), and case series (n=1). Improving lower extremity complications associated with type 2 diabetes can be done through effective foot care interventions that include foot care knowledge and foot care practices.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preventing these complications, understanding the risk factors, and having the ability to manage complications outside of the clinical encounter is an important part of a diabetes foot self-care management program. Interventions and research studies that aim to reduce lower extremity complications are still lacking. Further research is needed to test foot care interventions across multiple populations and geographic locations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Kinesiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA; tjbonner@tamu.edu.
authors.forename: Timethia
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bonner
authors.affiliation: Health Sciences Center, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Foster
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Kinesiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Erica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Spears-Lanoix
keywords: diabetes; diabetic foot disease; foot care; foot care knowledge; self-care management