Influence of Diabetes- Related Knowledge on Foot Ulceration
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Influence of diabetes- related knowledge on foot ulceration Cynthia Formosa, Lourdes Vella Article points To investigate the relationship between diabetes-related knowledge 1. This study aimed to and foot ulceration among people with type 2 diabetes, the authors explore the relationship assessed diabetes knowledge in groups with and without foot between diabetes-related knowledge and foot ulceration. There was no significant difference in diabetes-related ulceration in a Maltese knowledge between the two groups, although the mean level of population with type 2 knowledge in the group with foot ulceration was greater. The authors’ diabetes. question current approaches to diabetes education and suggest that a 2. No significant difference new approach to diabetes education programmes is needed. in diabetes-related knowledge was found he incidence of diabetes is increasing Strine et al (2005) reported that 50–80% to exist between those worldwide and an estimated 1–4% of people with diabetes worldwide have with and without foot ulceration. T of people with type 2 diabetes significant knowledge deficits in relation to develop a foot ulcer each year (Boulton et al, the management of their condition. These 3. Diabetic foot ulcers are 2005). This is of concern for both people data suggest that people are either not a global concern leading with diabetic foot ulceration and healthcare receiving diabetes education, or that the to patient morbidity and mortality, and providers, with episodes of ulceration strongly education offered is not effective. A fuller improvements in the associated with lower-extremity amputations, understanding of the factors that contribute approach to diabetes reduced quality of life, long periods of to suboptimal self-management, leading education may improve hospitalisation and substantial healthcare ultimately to distressing and costly diabetic outcomes. costs (Boulton et al, 2005). complications, is important if improvements Key words: Research suggests that the complications in diabetes outcomes are to be achieved - Diabetes-related of diabetes – including foot ulceration (Perrin et al, 2009). knowledge – could be prevented or ameliorated by Here, the authors explore the relationship - Foot ulcer prevention long-term good glycaemic control (UK between diabetes-related knowledge and foot - Health behaviours Prospective Diabetes Study Group, 1998; ulceration in a Maltese cohort. Jabbar et al, 2001). However, optimal long- term glycaemic control requires good self- Background management and, with less than a third of Ten percent of the Maltese population people with diabetes in Europe achieving has diabetes, compared with 2–5% of the good glycaemic control (HbA1c level ≤6.5% population in its neighbouring European Cynthia Formosa is a Lecturer [≤48 mmol/mol]; Liebl et al, 2002), it has countries (Rocchiccioli et al, 2005). and the Head of the School of been suggested that people with diabetes are Expectably, foot ulceration, and ulcer Podiatry, University of Malta. not being effectively educated and supported recurrence, is common in the Maltese Lourdes Vella is a Podiatrist, to achieve good self-management. population with diabetes (Galea et al, 2009). Department of Health, Malta. The Diabetic Foot Journal Vol 14 No 2 2011 81 Influence of diabetes-related knowledge on foot ulceration Page points Aim Results 1. Participants eligible for To determine whether diabetes-related All those who met the inclusion criteria were this study were Maltese, knowledge correlated with diabetic foot invited verbally and in writing and all agreed aged >45 years with ulceration. to participate (30/30 [15 with foot ulcers; 15 type 2 diabetes with no history of foot ulceration]; 100% 2. The outcome variable Methods response rate). Both groups were matched for measured for both groups Individuals were recruited from the Diabetes age, sex, education level, duration of diabetes, was diabetes-related Podiatry Clinic, Mater Dei Hospital, Malta current medications and weight. No more knowledge, assessed by (the only public hospital in Malta). An average than a 5-year difference was accepted for age the Diabetes Knowledge Questionnaire, which was of 5000 people attend the Diabetes Podiatry or duration of diabetes for people matched in read to participants in Clinic annually, with approximately 500 the two groups. one-to-one interviews in experiencing ulceration (Mater Dei Hospital, the Maltese language. 2007). Diabetes knowledge scores 3. No significant difference Participants eligible for this study were Table 1 shows the DKQ-24 scores for each was found between the Maltese, aged >45 years with type 2 diabetes group. When comparing knowledge scores Diabetes Knowledge (World Health Organization diagnostic between the two groups, no significant Questionnaire scores of criteria; WHO, 2011). People presenting with difference was found (P=0.671). However, the two groups, however the mean score of the case an active ulcer were invited to participate as the mean DKQ-24 score of the case group group was higher than the case group; people attending for routine was higher than that of the controls (18.53 vs that of the controls. podiatry care with no history of ulceration 18.07; Table 2). were invited to participate as the control group. This study was approved by the Ethics HbA1c Board of the University of Malta. Mean HbA1c levels are shown in Table 3. No significant difference between the HbA1c Outcome measure levels of the two groups was found (P=0.312). The outcome variable measured for both groups was diabetes-related knowledge, Table 1. Comparison of Diabetes assessed by the Diabetes Knowledge Knowledge Questionnaire (DKQ-24) scores between the case and control groups. Questionnaire (DKQ-24; Garcia et al, 2001). Group DKQ-24 score, mean (SD)* This scale was developed for use in people with type 2 diabetes and is a reliable and Control (n=15) 18.07 (±0.76) valid measure that is easy to administer. Case (n=15) 18.53 (±0.78) Items include general diabetes information, *P=0.671. SD, standard deviation. urine and blood testing, diet and foot care. The DKQ-24 was read to participants in one- Table 2. Statistical analysis of the Diabetes Knowledge Questionnaire scores of the case and to-one interviews in the Maltese language control groups. (previously translated into Maltese by Formosa Between Within Total et al [2008]). groups groups As a surrogate measure of the application Sum of squares 1.633 284.667 250.300 of diabetes-related knowledge, mean HbA df 1 28 29 1c Mean square 1.633 8.881 levels of the two groups were recorded and F 0.184 compared. P-value 0.671 df, degrees of freedom. Statistical analysis Data were analysed using SPSS version 14 Table 3. Mean participant HbA1c levels. (IBM, Chicago, IL). Normality of distribution Group HbA1c, mean % (SD) was established using a Kolmogorov Smirnov Control (n=15) 7.3† (±1.3) test. One-way analysis of variance was used to Case (n=15) 7.8‡ (±1.3) determine differences in the mean. †56 mmol/mol; ‡62 mmol/mol. SD, standard deviation. 82 The Diabetic Foot Journal Vol 14 No 2 2011 Influence of diabetes-related knowledge on foot ulceration However, the mean HbA1c in the case improved glycaemic control for greater Page points group was higher than in the controls (7.8% than 3–6 months, and the prevention of 1. Previous studies on the [62 mmol/mol] vs 7.3% [56 mmol/mol]). diabetic complications (Sánchez et al, 2005; relationship between Valk et al, 2005; Mauldon et al, 2006; diabetes-related Discussion Adolfsson et al, 2007). In a systematic knowledge and diabetes This is the first study to explore the relationship review, Dorresteijn et al (2010) concluded outcomes have reported conflicting results. between diabetes-related knowledge and foot that there was insufficient evidence to ulcer prevalence in a Maltese cohort. The show that knowledge acquired through 2. In a systematic review, evidence suggests that there is no significant health education interventions reduced the Dorresteijn et al (2010) concluded that there was difference in diabetes-related knowledge incidence of diabetic foot ulceration. insufficient evidence to between people with foot ulceration and those Many of the existing diabetes education show that knowledge with no history of ulceration. programmes have been criticised for being acquired through health Previous studies on the relationship centred on knowledge and physiological education interventions between diabetes-related knowledge outcomes, and placing little importance on reduced the incidence of diabetic foot ulceration and diabetes outcomes have reported a person’s beliefs and experience of living conflicting results (Norris et al, 2002; with their condition (Sigurdardottir et al, 3. Existing diabetes Tankova et al, 2004; Valk et al, 2005; 2007). Furthermore, knowledge alone does education programmes have been criticised for Formosa et al, 2008; Dorresteijn et al; not always lead to behavioural change little importance on 2010). Few have demonstrated what (Rafique and Shaikh, 2006), while culture a person’s beliefs and might intuitively be expected; that greater is known to strongly influence behaviour experience of living with diabetes-related knowledge translates into (Lifshitz, 2006). their condition. Influence of diabetes-related knowledge on foot ulceration Page points Several studies have looked specifically at Diabetic foot health education programmes 1. Health behaviour is how culture affects the interpretation and – if they are to translate into positive complex