Foot Self-care in Older Adults

University of Missouri (MU)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Foot

Treatments: Behavioral: 2 Feet 4 Life

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03656341

2011705

Details and patient eligibility

About

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.

Full 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.

Enrollment: 32 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 65+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

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.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

---

32 participants in 3 patient groups

2 Feet 4 Life

Experimental group

Description:

Intervention group will receive one hour intervention weekly for four consecutive weeks. Outcomes will be measured at baseline (before the intervention), immediately after the intervention (1 month), three months post-intervention, and six months post-intervention

Treatment:

Behavioral: 2 Feet 4 Life

True control group

No Intervention group

Description:

Will complete the same four assessment visits as the intervention group.

Bias control group

No Intervention group

Description:

Will complete outcome assessments at baseline and the final assessment.