How can we improve adherence?

The complexity of online patient education materials for wound care strategies: A readability analysis

BACKGROUND

In the United States, over 6 million people are affected by chronic wounds. Patients often rely on the Internet for treatment information; however, these educational materials typically exceed the average eighth-grade health literacy level. This study aimed to assess the readability and language accessibility of online patient education materials on wound care strategies.

METHODS

A search was conducted on Google for articles related to wound care strategies. The first 12 unique websites from each search strategy were selected for further analysis. Readability was assessed using 11 tests, with the mean scores calculated for each.

RESULTS

A total of 66 articles pertaining to wound care strategies were retrieved from 43 websites. All articles had an average reading grade level of 13.5 ± 2.5 and an average reading age of 18.7 ± 2.5 years. Websites were categorized by the following sources: academic (34.9%), reagent/biologic manufacturers (27.9%), wound care (18.6%), news media organizations (14%), and other (4.7%). Flesch Reading Ease Score, graded from 0 for most difficult to 100 for least difficult, was found to be highest for academic websites (44.2, P = .01) and lowest for news media websites (24.9, P = .01). Academic websites were available in the more languages compared to all other website categories (P < .01).

CONCLUSION

Online materials related to wound care strategies often exceed the National Institute of Health recommended eighth-grade reading level. This study emphasizes the need for healthcare providers to create more accessible educational materials to address the gap in health literacy and optimize patient care.

The Appropriateness of Footwear in Diabetic Patients Observed during a Podiatric Examination: A Prospective Observational Study

Background: Adequate compliance with wearing therapeutic footwear (TF) to prevent diabetic foot ulcers is known to be low. The primary aim of this study was to identify population awareness about the ulceration and/or recurrence risk according to footwear choice. The secondary aim was to evaluate the compliance level in footwear choice based on a patient's own risk. Methods: Forty podiatrists participated from 1 September 2017 to 31 August 2018, providing six-section forms which included personal data, risk classification, footwear characteristics and a knowledge questionnaire. Results: This study included 1507 patients. Those with active ulcers were excluded. A total of 43% of patients belonged to risk class 0, 19% to risk class 1, 19% to risk class 2 and 19% to risk class 3. A total of 58% had foot deformities. Conclusions: Nearly half of patients with a high risk of ulceration had knowledge of their own risk but the majority of them did not follow the recommendations. Only a small percentage (36%) of risk class 3 patients wore footwear suitable for their risk class. There was poor consideration of footwear choice among patients. We highlight critical issues in patient education and compliance with wearing footwear appropriate to their risk class.

Guidelines on the prevention of foot ulcers in persons with diabetes (IWGDF 2023 update)

AIMS

This is the 2023 International Working Group on the Diabetic Foot guideline on the prevention of foot ulcers in persons with diabetes, which updates the 2019 guideline. This guideline is targeted at clinicians and other healthcare professionals.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We followed the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations methodology to devise clinical questions and critically important outcomes in the PICO format, to conduct a systematic review of the medical-scientific literature including, where appropriate, meta-analyses, and to write recommendations and their rationale. The recommendations are based on the quality of evidence found in the systematic review, expert opinion where (sufficient) evidence was not available, and a weighing of the desirable and undesirable effects of an intervention, as well as patient preferences, costs, equity, feasibility and applicability.

RESULTS

We recommend screening a person with diabetes at very low risk of foot ulceration annually for the loss of protective sensation and peripheral artery disease, and screening persons at higher risk at higher frequencies for additional risk factors. For preventing a foot ulcer, educate persons at-risk about appropriate foot self-care, educate not to walk without suitable foot protection, and treat any pre-ulcerative lesion on the foot. Educate moderate-to-high risk people with diabetes to wear properly fitting, accommodative, therapeutic footwear, and consider coaching them to monitor foot skin temperature. Prescribe therapeutic footwear that has a demonstrated plantar pressure relieving effect during walking, to help prevent plantar foot ulcer recurrence. Consider advising people at low-to-moderate risk to undertake a, preferably supervised, foot-ankle exercise programme to reduce ulcer risk factors, and consider communicating that a total increase in weight-bearing activity of 1000 steps/day is likely safe with regards to risk of ulceration. In people with non-rigid hammertoe with pre-ulcerative lesion, consider flexor tendon tenotomy. We suggest not to use a nerve decompression procedure to help prevent foot ulcers. Provide integrated foot care for moderate-to-high-risk people with diabetes to help prevent (recurrence of) ulceration.

CONCLUSIONS

These recommendations should help healthcare professionals to provide better care for persons with diabetes at risk of foot ulceration, to increase the number of ulcer-free days and reduce the patient and healthcare burden of diabetes-related foot disease.

Adherence and Wearing Time of Prescribed Footwear among People at Risk of Diabetes-Related Foot Ulcers: Which Measure to Use?

Adherence to prescribed footwear is essential to prevent diabetes-related foot ulcers. The aim was to compare different measures of adherence and wearing time of prescribed footwear with a reference adherence measure, among people with diabetes at high risk of foot ulceration. We followed 53 participants for 7 consecutive days. A temperature sensor measured wearing time of prescribed footwear and a triaxial accelerometer assessed weight-bearing activities. Subjective wearing time was self-reported. Reference adherence measure was proportion of weight-bearing time prescribed footwear was worn. We calculated Spearman's correlation coefficients, kappa coefficients, and areas under the curve (AUC) for the association between the reference measure and other measures of adherence and wearing time. Proportion of daily steps with prescribed footwear worn had a very strong association (r = 0.96, Κ = 0.93; AUC: 0.96-1.00), objective wearing time had a strong association (r = 0.91, Κ = 0.85, AUC: 0.89-0.99), and subjective wearing time had a weak association (r = 0.42, Κ = 0.38, AUC: 0.67-0.81) with the reference measure. Objectively measured proportion of daily steps with prescribed footwear is a valid measure of footwear adherence. Objective wearing time is reasonably valid, and may be used in clinical practice and for long-term measurements. Subjective wearing time is not recommended to be used.

Patients, carers and healthcare providers' perspectives on a patient-owned surveillance system for diabetic foot ulcer care: A qualitative study

Objective

Digital health has recently gained a foothold in monitoring and improving diabetes care. We aim to explore the views of patients, carers and healthcare providers (HCPs) regarding the use of a novel patient-owned wound surveillance application as part of outpatient management of patients with diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs).

Methods

Semi-structured online interviews were conducted with patients, carers and HCPs in wound care for DFUs. The participants were recruited from a primary care polyclinic network and two tertiary hospitals in Singapore, within the same healthcare cluster. Purposive maximum variation sampling was used to select participants with differing attributes to ensure heterogeneity. Common themes relating to the wound imaging app were captured.

Results

A total of 20 patients, 5 carers and 20 HCPs participated in the qualitative study. None of the participants have used a wound imaging app before. Regarding a patient-owned wound surveillance app, all were open and receptive to the system and workflow for use in DFU care. Four major themes emerged from patients and carers: (1) technology, (2) application features and usability, (3) feasibility of using the wound imaging application and (4) logistics of care. Four major themes were identified from HCPs: (1) attitudes towards wound imaging app, (2) preferences regarding functionality, (3) perceived challenges for patients/carers and (4) perceived barriers for HCPs.

Conclusion

Our study highlighted several barriers and facilitators from patients, carers and HCPs regarding the use of a patient-owned wound surveillance app. These findings demonstrate the potential of digital health and areas to improve and tailor a DFU wound app suitable for implementation in the local population.

Users' needs and expectations and the design of a new custom-made indoor footwear solution for people with diabetes at risk of foot ulceration

PURPOSE

To assess users' needs and expectations regarding custom-made indoor footwear, and to design such footwear with similar biomechanical efficacy and better usability compared to regular custom-made footwear in people with diabetes at risk for foot ulceration.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Multidisciplinary systematic design approach. Needs and expectations regarding indoor footwear were evaluated via a questionnaire in 50 high foot ulcer risk people with diabetes using custom-made footwear. We systematically designed indoor footwear, and manufactured this for nine participants. Primary requirement was similar plantar pressure compared to participants' regular custom-made footwear.

RESULTS

Eighty-two percent of participants expressed a need for custom-made indoor footwear and 66% expected such footwear to increase their adherence. The custom-made indoor footwear had the same bottom construction as participants' regular custom-made footwear, but with softer and more light-weight upper materials. Peak pressures were similar or lower, while qualitative evaluation showed better usability and lower costs for indoor footwear.

CONCLUSIONS

People with diabetes at risk of foot ulceration expressed a clear need for custom-made indoor footwear, and expected such footwear to increase their adherence. Our indoor footwear design provides adequate pressure relief, with better usability, and can be produced at lower costs compared to regular custom-made footwear.Implications for rehabilitationPeople with diabetes at risk of foot ulceration express a need for special indoor footwear.We developed indoor footwear with similar offloading capacity as regular custom-made footwear.The indoor footwear is lighter in weight, easier to don/doff and lower in costs.At-risk people with diabetes expect this footwear to increase their footwear adherence.

Clinical Efficacy of a 3D Foot Scanner app for the Fitting of Therapeutic Footwear in Persons with Diabetes in Remission: A Randomized and Controlled Clinical Trial

To evaluate the ability of high-risk patients with diabetes in remission to select proper therapeutic footwear (TF) and validate a novel 3D foot scanner app for selecting the proper fitting TF. We conducted a randomized and controlled clinical trial enrolling 30 patients with a previously healed diabetic foot ulcer carried out in a specialized diabetic foot unit between November 2021 and June 2022. All patients were recommended to TF with extra depth volume and rocker sole. The control group could acquire the TF size and model according to aesthetic preferences, while the experimental group had to acquire a specific size and model according to the result of a novel mobile app 3D feet scan. TF was recommended to change when the ill-fitting reasons were found, excessive length or tightness or compromise with toes. The primary outcome measure was the requirement of TF change after prescription because of ill-fitting. A total of seven patients required TF change, one of them (6.7%) in the experimental group and six patients (40%) in the control group (p = .031, 95% CI [0.011-1.04]). Reasons for ill-fitting were as follows: four patients due to excessive length and three patients due to toe compromise. The relative risk reduction for the need to change the TF via the foot scan compared to the control group was 83%, and the number needed to treat was 20. High-risk patients with diabetes tend to select TF with inadequate fitting (length or capacity), and they should be guided hand to hand to acquire proper TF.

Awareness of non-communicable diseases in women: a cross-sectional study

Chronic non-communicable diseases (NCD) are the major reason for death, morbidity, loss of independency and public health cost. NCD prevalence could be significantly reduced by adopting a healthy lifestyle. This cross-sectional cohort study (online survey) in 221 women aimed to assess NCD awareness, knowledge about NCD prevention and willingness to adopt a healthier lifestyle in women. Overall, NCD awareness level was quite high with, however, information mainly originating from lay media, probably being one reason for false estimations of age groups mainly affected by NCD, impact of NCD on quality of life, NCD mortalities, and the extent of NCD prevention by lifestyle interventions, respectively. Furthermore, also due to mainly lay media, half of women knew online NCD risk calculators, most of them would like to know their NCD risk, but only few had been offered NCD risk calculation by their physician. The mean threshold for willing to adopt a healthier lifestyle was a roughly calculated 37% 5-10 years risk to develop a certain NCD. Acceptance of non-pharmacological interventions for NCD prevention was high, however, major barriers for not implementing a healthier lifestyle were lack of expert information and lack of time. In conclusion, future public health strategies should focus on distributing better understandable and correct information about NCD as well as meeting the individuals' request for personalized NCD risk calculation. Furthermore, physicians should be better trained for personalized NCD prevention counseling.

Adhoc Setup of an Online Mental Health Self-Help Program During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Description of the Development and Implementation Processes and Analysis of Its Users’ and Usage Profiles

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic hit Austria in March 2020. This led to a considerable reduction in outpatient psychiatric therapies. People with mental disorders as well as with newly emerging mental health issues found themselves with very limited treatment options. Within only a few days our hospital set up an online mental health self-help program which went online in its first version on the first day of the lockdown in Austria. The process of this development and implementation process alongside with the user’s and usage data for the program are presented here.

Methods

A small core team initiated the development of the program on a low-budget basis and using mostly freely available digital resources. The program had to be free of costs for its users and easy to navigate. Each self-help module contains a text description of the topic, a self-rating questionnaire and several psychoeducational 2–5 min videos. These videos explain, e.g., interactions of mental stress and the immune system or the vicious circle of anxiety. Additional videos provide easy to learn techniques like breathing and relaxation exercises.

Results

We illustrate the implementation of this program following the replicating effective program (REP) model. We provide a detailed description of the implementation process starting from a simple website to a smartphone-based application with registered user area and instantaneous reporting of self-rating questionnaire results to users. The described process could be used as a model for the setup of similar programs in a very short time. As an indicator of acceptance, we report 46,100 unique video views and 3,937 completed questionnaires in the first year of use. The most accessed videos were those on anxiety, relaxation and resilience. Analysis of the sociodemographic user data indicate that they were mostly young (&lt; 45 years; 59.7%), females (77.5%) and previously mentally healthy individuals (74.5%). An example of the collected psychometric questionnaire data over time is given.

Conclusion

We show that it is possible to set up an online mental health self-help program ad hoc and without extensive prior planning, which enabled us to dynamically respond to a new situation. We are now planning on keeping the program active for a longer period of time to supplement and expand traditional treatment settings also outside the COVID-19 pandemic.

Quality of Life and Self-care Activities in Diabetic Ulcer Patients, Grade 3: Gender Differences

Introduction: Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is a common complication of diabetes mellitus associated with increased morbidity and mortality and diminished quality of life (QoL). This study aimed to explore the effect of gender differences on QoL and adherence to self-care activities.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we enrolled 135 male and 135 female patients with DFU. Data was collected using the Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) and a questionnaire that measured self-care activities (Diet, Exercise, Blood Examination, and Foot Check). Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 20.

Results: In terms of QoL, male participants had moderate to high levels in the categories of energy/fatigue, emotional well-being, social functioning, and bodily pain, whereas they had low levels in physical functioning, physical role, and emotional role. Female patients had moderate QoL in the categories of energy/fatigue and social functioning, whereas they had low QoL in physical functioning, physical role, emotional role, emotional well-being, and bodily pain. Finally, regarding general health, male participants had moderate QoL and females had moderate to low QoL. Both males and females had low adherence to exercise and high in blood-examinations. For both genders, adherence to exercise had a statistically significant association with all sub-categories of QoL apart from those of role (physical and emotional).

Conclusion: It is essential for health care professionals to provide gender-specific approaches in treatment of ulceration.

"When nothing happens, nobody is afraid!" beliefs and perceptions around self-care and health-seeking behaviours: Voices of patients living with diabetic lower extremity amputation in primary care

Self-management and self-care are the cornerstone of diabetes care and an essential part of successfully preventing or delaying diabetes complications. Yet, despite being armed with the required information and guidance for self-management, self-care and adherence to foot self-care recommendations and compliance to medication among patients with diabetic foot ulcer and diabetic lower extremity amputations remain low and suboptimal. This study reveals in-depth account of nine such patients' beliefs and perceptions around their illness, their self-care, and their health-seeking behaviours. Patients living with diabetic lower extremity amputation displayed profound lack of knowledge of self-care of diabetes and foot and passive health-related behaviours. The overarching sense that "when nothing happens, nobody is afraid," points to a lack of motivation in taking charge of one's own health, whether this is with reference to treatment or care adherence, following recommended self-care advice, or seeking timely treatment. The Health Beliefs Model provides the theoretical framework for probing into the factors for the participants' suboptimal self-care and passive health-seeking behaviours. Two themes emerged from data analysis: profound knowledge deficit and passive health-related behaviours. The beliefs and perceptions around self-care and health-seeking behaviours for patients with lower extremity amputation are interpreted as the "ignorant self" with passive health-seeking behaviours. Patients with diabetes and diabetic foot diseases may benefit from personalized education, motivational interviewing, and family support.

Effectiveness of at-home skin temperature monitoring in reducing the incidence of foot ulcer recurrence in people with diabetes: a multicenter randomized controlled trial (DIATEMP)

INTRODUCTION

The skin of people with diabetic foot disease is thought to heat up from ambulatory activity before it breaks down into ulceration. This allows for early recognition of imminent ulcers. We assessed whether at-home monitoring of plantar foot skin temperature can help prevent ulcer recurrence in diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

In this parallel-group outcome-assessor-blinded multicenter randomized controlled trial (7 hospitals, 4 podiatry practices), we randomly assigned people with diabetes, neuropathy, foot ulcer history (<4 years, n=295), or Charcot's neuro-arthropathy (n=9) to usual care (ie, podiatric treatment, education, and therapeutic footwear) or usual care plus measuring skin temperatures at 6-8 plantar sites per foot each day (enhanced therapy). If ∆T>2.2°C between corresponding sites on the left and right foot for two consecutive days, participants were instructed to reduce ambulatory activity until this hotspot disappeared and contact their podiatrist. Primary outcome was ulcer recurrence in 18 months on the plantar foot, interdigital, or medial/lateral/anterior forefoot surfaces; secondary outcome was ulcer recurrence at any foot site.

RESULTS

On the basis of intention-to-treat, 44 of 151 (29.1%) participants in enhanced therapy and 57 of 153 (37.3%) in usual care had ulcer recurrence at a primary outcome site (RR: 0.782 (95%CI 0.566 to 1.080), p=0.133). Of the 83 participants in enhanced therapy who measured a hotspot, the 24 subsequently reducing their ambulatory activity had significantly fewer ulcer recurrences (n=3) than those in usual care (RR: 0.336 (95% CI 0.114 to 0.986), p=0.017). Enhanced therapy was effective over usual care for ulcer recurrence at any foot site (RR: 0.760 (95% CI 0.579 to 0.997), p=0.046).

CONCLUSIONS

At-home foot temperature monitoring does not significantly reduce incidence of diabetic foot ulcer recurrence at or adjacent to measurement sites over usual care, unless participants reduce ambulatory activity when hotspots are found, or when aiming to prevent ulcers at any foot site.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NTR5403.

Effects of training podiatrists to use imagery-based motivational interviewing when treating people with diabetes-related foot disease: a mixed-methods pilot study

BACKGROUND

Self-care in diabetes related foot disease (DFD) is challenging and contributes to poor outcomes. Motivational Interviewing (MI) can engage people in self-care and modifying it by integrating imagery may further improve its outcomes. No previous studies have trained podiatrists in using MI to address DFD self-care. This was the first study on training podiatrists to conduct imagery-based motivational interviewing (MI) when treating people with DFD, and to examine impacts on MI related skills, job satisfaction and subjective experiences in a mixed-methods pilot study.

METHODS

Eleven recruited podiatrists (median age: 35 years, 9 female and 2 male) received two 4-h training sessions, and three received subsequent mentoring. MI and imagery skills were rated using validated tools during two clinical sessions per participant at baseline, and 2- and 12-weeks post-training. Job satisfaction was assessed at baseline and 12 weeks. Semi-structured interviews at 12 weeks were analysed using the framework approach.

RESULTS

Significant improvements over time (p = .006-.044) with substantial effect sizes (η2 = .50-.67) were found in three of four global MI related communication skills and two of four MI behaviours. However, effects on these indices were not sustained to 12 weeks, and imagery was rarely used. Job satisfaction was high at baseline and unchanged at follow-up (p = 0.34, η2 = .100). In qualitative interviews, MI training and skills were valued, but significant challenges in using MI when treating people with DFD were reported.

CONCLUSION

Training podiatrists in MI may have potential but more training, observation and mentoring appear needed to obtain sustained communication changes in practice.

Foot thermometry with mHeath-based supplementation to prevent diabetic foot ulcers: A randomized controlled trial

Background: Novel approaches to reduce diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) in low- and middle-income countries are needed. Our objective was to compare incidence of DFUs in the thermometry plus mobile health (mHealth) reminders (intervention) vs. thermometry-only (control). Methods: We conducted a randomized trial enrolling adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus at risk of foot ulcers (risk groups 2 or 3) but without foot ulcers at the time of recruitment, and allocating them to control (instruction to use a liquid crystal-based foot thermometer daily) or intervention (same instruction supplemented with text and voice messages with reminders to use the device and messages to promote foot care) groups, and followed for 18 months. The primary outcome was time to occurrence of DFU. A process evaluation was also conducted. Results: A total of 172 patients (63% women, mean age 61 years) were enrolled; 86 to each study group. More patients enrolled in the intervention arm had a history of previous DFU (66% vs. 48%). Follow-up for the primary endpoint was complete for 158 of 172 participants (92%). Adherence to ≥80% of daily temperature measurements was 87% (103 of 118) among the study participants who returned the logbook. DFU cumulative incidence was 24% (19 of 79) in the intervention arm and 11% (9 of 79) in the control arm. After adjusting for history of foot ulceration and study site, the hazard ratio (HR) for DFU was 1.44 (95% CI 0.65, 3.22). Conclusions: In our study, conducted in a low-income setting, the addition of mHealth to foot thermometry was not effective in reducing foot ulceration. Importantly, there was a higher rate of previous DFU in the intervention group, the adherence to thermometry was high, and the expected rates of DFU used in our sample size calculations were not met. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02373592 (27/02/2015).

Effects of Glycerol and Sodium Pentaborate Formulation on Prevention of Postoperative Peritoneal Adhesion Formation

Background

Postoperative peritoneal adhesions (PPA) are a serious problem for abdominal surgery. An effective remedy has not been found yet. New formulation of glycerol and sodium pentaborate may be able to solve the problem.

Method

Female Wistar albino rats were randomly assigned into four equal groups. The adhesion model was created on the caecum anterior wall and covered with 2 ml 0.9% NaCl, 3% glycerol, 3% sodium pentaborate, and 3% glycerol plus 3% sodium pentaborate solutions in the groups, respectively. Two weeks later, the rats were sacrificed. PPA were graded macroscopically and microscopically.

Results

Total adhesion scores of the 3% glycerol + 3% sodium pentaborate group were statistically different from the other groups for macroscopic and also microscopic evaluations (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

3% glycerol plus 3% sodium pentaborate as a new formulation has preventive effects on PPA with a synergistic mechanism.

Guidelines on the prevention of foot ulcers in persons with diabetes (IWGDF 2019 update)

The International Working Group on the Diabetic Foot (IWGDF) has published evidence-based guidelines on the prevention and management of diabetic foot disease since 1999. This guideline is on the prevention of foot ulceration in persons with diabetes and updates the 2015 IWGDF prevention guideline. We followed the GRADE methodology to devise clinical questions and critically important outcomes in the PICO format, to conduct a systematic review of the medical-scientific literature, and to write recommendations and their rationale. The recommendations are based on the quality of evidence found in the systematic review, expert opinion where evidence was not available, and a weighing of the benefits and harms, patient preferences, feasibility and applicability, and costs related to the intervention. We recommend to screen a person at very low risk for ulceration annually for loss of protective sensation and peripheral artery disease and persons at higher risk at higher frequencies for additional risk factors. For preventing a foot ulcer, educate the at-risk patient about appropriate foot self-care and treat any pre-ulcerative sign on the foot. Instruct moderate-to-high risk patients to wear accommodative properly fitting therapeutic footwear, and consider instructing them to monitor foot skin temperature. Prescribe therapeutic footwear that has a demonstrated plantar pressure relieving effect during walking to prevent plantar foot ulcer recurrence. In patients that fail non-surgical treatment for an active or imminent ulcer, consider surgical intervention; we suggest not to use a nerve decompression procedure. Provide integrated foot care for high-risk patients to prevent ulcer recurrence. Following these recommendations will help health care professionals to provide better care for persons with diabetes at risk of foot ulceration, to increase the number of ulcer-free days, and to reduce the patient and health care burden of diabetic foot disease.

Targeting healthspan to optimally combat non-communicable disease in an aging world

Human lifespan and life expectancy have increased worldwide, but the number of years that we spend free of chronic or debilitating disorders, known as healthspan, has not shifted along with increased lifespan. This unfavourable trend presents a tremendous global social-economical problem. We propose a model of promoting optimal human health with proactive, holistic interventions across the lifespan, which require multi-disciplinary, innovative approaches to research and care. We contend that this is the only hope that we have to face the challenges of population growth and aging, as well as the upward trend in non-communicable disease prevalence.

Adherence to diabetes care: Knowledge of biochemical processes has a high impact on glycaemic control among adolescents with type 1 diabetes

AIM

To evaluate the impact of patients' understanding of biochemical processes involved in glucose regulation (causal-biochemical knowledge) and of diabetes self-management knowledge on adherence to treatment recommendations among adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional study.

METHODS

Adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus, aged 12-18 years and able to read and write in Hebrew or in Arabic were eligible. Participants were recruited between August 2016 - January 2018 during routine visits to the Paediatric Diabetes Clinic; informed consent was obtained as customary. Patients completed sociodemographic, clinical and type 1 diabetes mellitus self-management and biochemical knowledge questionnaires. Adherence to treatment was assessed by patients' serum HbA1c levels, collected from medical records.

RESULTS

Ninety-seven patients participated in the study. Mean HbA1c levels were 9.2% (1.9%) and only 24 (24.7%) patients met the recommended HbA1c ≤ 7.5%. Lower HbA1c levels were strongly associated with higher family income, older age at diagnosis and with better type 1 diabetes mellitus self-management and causal-biochemical knowledge. A regression model showed that causal-biochemical knowledge contributed to the variance in HbA1c levels. Furthermore, causal-biochemical knowledge, but not self-management knowledge, was found to mediate the negative relationship between low family income and high HbA1c levels.

CONCLUSIONS

Causal-biochemical knowledge is a valuable component for the adherence to diabetes care and glycaemic control.

IMPACT

Our study suggests that causal knowledge is a valuable component that should be included in nursing and healthcare educational programmes for adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Reasons for (non-)adherence to self-care in people with a diabetic foot ulcer

We aimed to explore reasons for (non-)adherence to self-care among people with diabetic foot ulcers, as well as barriers and solutions to improving their self-care adherence. We performed a qualitative study, recruiting people with a diabetic foot ulcer from a community diabetic foot clinic. Semistructured interviews were held with participants. Data saturation occurred after 9 and was confirmed after 11 participant interviews. Interviews were audio-taped, transcribed verbatim and analyzed using the framework approach. Findings were mapped and the World Health Organization's (WHO) adherence dimensions were applied to themes identified. The key themes identified were (1) participants performed recommended practices in self-care; (2) participants relied heavily on care support; (3) motivations for self-care came from "staying well"; and (4) there was a disparity between self-care knowledge and understanding. Barriers identified included poor mobility and visibility, difficulty wearing offloading devices or using wound dressings, and frustration with lack of progress. Solutions to improve adherence included integrating self-care as routine, improved education, more external help and improving visibility. All five WHO adherence dimensions played a role in (non-)adherence to diabetic foot ulcer self-care. We conclude that adherence to recommended diabetic foot ulcer self-care was limited at best, and reasons for nonadherence were multidimensional. Based on the factors related to (non-)adherence and the barriers and solutions described, we suggest clinicians obtain a broad view of a person's situation when aiming to improve self-care adherence.

Promoting Self-Care of Diabetic Foot Ulcers Through a Mobile Phone App: User-Centered Design and Evaluation

Background

Without effective self-care, people with diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are at risk of prolonged healing times, hospitalization, amputation, and reduced quality of life. Despite these consequences, adherence to DFU self-care remains low. New strategies are needed to engage people in the self-care of their DFUs.

Objective

This study aimed to evaluate the usability and potential usefulness of a new mobile phone app to engage people with DFUs in self-care.

Methods

We developed a new mobile phone app, MyFootCare, to engage people with DFUs through goals, progress monitoring, and reminders in self-care. Key features included novel visual analytics that automatically extract and monitor DFU size information from mobile phone photos of the foot. A functional prototype of MyFootCare was created and evaluated through a user-centered design process with 11 participants with DFUs. Data were collected through semistructured interviews discussing existing self-care practices and observations of MyFootCare with participants. Data were analyzed qualitatively through thematic analysis.

Results

Key themes were as follows: (1) participants already used mobile phone photos to monitor their DFU progress; (2) participants had limited experience with using mobile phone apps; (3) participants desired the objective DFU size data provided by the tracking feature of MyFootCare to monitor their DFU progress; (4) participants were ambivalent about the MyFootCare goal image and diary features, commenting that these features were useful but also that it was unlikely that they would use them; and (5) participants desired to share their MyFootCare data with their clinicians to demonstrate engagement in self-care and to reflect on their progress.

Conclusions

MyFootCare shows promising features to engage people in DFU self-care. Most notably, ulcer size data are useful to monitor progress and engage people. However, more work is needed to improve the usability and accuracy of MyFootCare, that is, by refining the process of taking and analyzing photos of DFUs and removing unnecessary features. These findings open the door for further work to develop a system that is easy to use and functions in everyday life conditions and to test it with people with DFUs and their carers.

Diabetic Foot Infections: Update on Management

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Diabetic foot infections (DFIs) are common in patients with diabetes mellitus complicated by foot ulcers and can be classified in different categories based on their severity. In this report, we present the diagnosis and management of DFIs according to their classification.

RECENT FINDINGS

While appropriate antibiotic regiments and surgical techniques for the treatment of DFIs are well established, new technologies and techniques for example in medical imaging, wound care modalities, and supplementary therapy approaches show potentially promising results in preventing DFIs. As with every complex disease, fine tuning DFI management can be challenging as it requires careful evaluation of different parameters. It demands timely action, close collaboration of different specialties, and patient cooperation.

Facilitators and barriers to modifying dietary and hygiene behaviours as adjuvant treatment in patients with depression in primary care: a qualitative study

BACKGROUND

Major depression is a highly prevalent condition. Its pathogenesis is related to a wide variety of biological and psychosocial factors and among these is factors related to lifestyle. Lifestyle-based interventions seem to be appropriate strategies as coadjutant treatment. The objective of this study is to explore and identify expectations and experiences of both patients and healthcare professionals that can point to the main barriers and facilitators with regard to the promotion of healthy dietary and hygiene behaviours in patients suffering from major depression.

METHODS

A qualitative design was used to collect information from a wide range of purposefully and theoretically guided samples of depressed patients and health professionals from Primary Care (PC). Both in-depth interviews and discussion groups were used. A standardized protocol was designed to guide the interviews and groups, including the preparation of a topic list to be addressed, with previously tested, open suggestions that could be of interest. A thematic analysis was performed from grounded theory in order to explore, develop and define until saturation the emergent categories of analysis derived from the individual interview and group data.

RESULTS

Both patients as well as PC professionals noted a series of central aspects with respect to the implementation of a programme for the acquisition of healthy dietary and hygiene habits for depressive patients, which may be organized around 'personal', 'programmatic', and 'transversal' aspects. As for the personal aspects, categories regarding 'patient history', and 'disposition' were found; the programmatic aspects included categories such as 'presentation and monitoring', and modification of 'cognitive' and 'behavioural' habits; whereas the transversal aspects comprised the possibilities of 'social support' and defining categories of 'objectives'.

CONCLUSION

The implementation of intervention programmes that combine dietary and hygiene-related factors in patients with depression is complex, given the nature of the disorder itself, and its symptoms such as apathy and feelings of guilt or incompetence. Key issues exist for the success of the intervention, such as the simplicity of guidelines, tailoring through motivational interviewing, prolonged and intense monitoring throughout the different stages of the disorder, and the provision of adequate feedback and social support. PC could be an appropriate level in which to implement these interventions.

Barriers to treatment: describing them from a different perspective

BACKGROUND

Poor adherence is the result of many barriers. Most of the adherence research has focused on the patients' hurdles to adherence, instead of the responsibility the physician has for assuring adherence to treatment.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this review is to identify barriers to medication adherence and refocus how we describe those barriers in terms of physician behavior hurdles.

METHODS

PubMed was systematically searched for systematic reviews published between January 01, 2010, and December 06, 2017, that provided barriers to medication adherence. The searches were limited to reviews having adherence to medication prescribed in the outpatient setting as the main topic.

RESULTS

Thirty-one reviews were included in this review, covering 13 different disease categories. Fifty-eight different barriers to adherence to medications for chronic conditions were identified. Nineteen barriers were cited 6 or more times, and these were further categorized based on the World Health Organization's 5 dimensions of adherence and the number of times cited.

CONCLUSION

This review provides clear evidence that adherence to medication is affected by multiple barriers. To facilitate this, adherence barriers can be framed as physician/health system hurdles. With that focus in mind, we may put the responsibility where we have the most control.

Investigating the behavioural effects of a mobile-phone based home telehealth intervention in people with insulin-requiring diabetes: Results of a randomized controlled trial with patient interviews

Introduction

Evidence supporting home telehealth effects on clinical outcomes in diabetes is available, yet mechanisms of action for these improvements remain poorly understood. Behavioural change is one plausible explanation. This study investigated the behavioural effects of a mobile-phone based home telehealth (MTH) intervention in people with diabetes. It was hypothesized that MTH would improve self-efficacy, illness beliefs, and diabetes self-care.

Methods

A randomized controlled trial compared standard care to standard care supplemented with MTH (self-monitoring, data transmission, graphical and nurse-initiated feedback, educational calls). Self-report measures of self-efficacy, illness beliefs, and self-care were repeated at baseline, three months, and nine months. MTH effects were based on the group by time interactions in hierarchical linear models and effect sizes with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Interviews with MTH participants explored the perceived effects of MTH on diabetes self-management.

Results

Eighty-one participants were randomized to the intervention ( n = 45) and standard care ( n = 36). Significant group by time effects were observed for five out of seven self-efficacy subscales. Effect sizes were large, particularly at nine months. Interaction effects for illness beliefs and self-care were non-significant, but effect sizes and confidence intervals suggested MTH may positively affect diet and exercise. In interviews, MTH was associated with increased awareness, motivation, and a greater sense of security. Improved self-monitoring and diet were reported by some participants.

Discussion

MTH empowers people with diabetes to manage their condition and may influence self-care. Future MTH research would benefit from investigating behavioural mechanisms and determining patient profiles predictive of greater behavioural effectiveness.