Foot self-care behaviour in primary care patients with diabetic foot ulcers: Structural equation modelling of psychological predictors.

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are one of the most prevalent and costly diabetes complications, associated with diminished quality of life and poor prognosis. Management of DFUs relies heavily on patients' foot self-care behaviour. This study aims to explore psychological determinants of this important behaviour among primary care patients. A total of 186 patients with active DFUs self-reported their illness perception, diabetes distress, self-efficacy, and foot self-care behaviour. Structural equation modelling was performed to examine interrelationships among measured variables. The final model demonstrated satisfactory fit, CFI = 0.933, TLI = 0.913, RMSEA = 0.050, SRMR = 0.073, χ2(95) = 132.256 (p = 0.004), and explained 51.1% of the variance of foot self-care. Illness threat perceptions (i.e., consequence, timeline, identity, concern, and emotion) had a direct positive effect on foot self-care behaviours, but also indirectly decreased foot self-care through increasing diabetes distress. Control perceptions (i.e., personal control, treatment control, and coherence) were not directly associated with foot self-care behaviours, but indirectly improved foot self-care by reducing diabetes distress and increasing foot care confidence. These findings suggest illness perceptions, diabetes distress, and self-care confidence as modifiable predictors to be targeted in self-management interventions for patients with DFUs.

Group-based behaviour therapy improves self-care, glycaemic control and distress in adults with type 1 diabetes.

AIMS: Psychological interventions have had modest effects on HbA1c in adults with Type 1 diabetes (T1D). We evaluated a novel behaviour therapy (BT) group program aiming to improve diabetes self-care and reduce HbA1c and distress. Core features were the application of a functional-analytic model, behavioural self-management training, and personally selected T1D self-care behaviours as treatment targets. METHODS: Participants with T1D, 2-consecutive HbA1c ≥ 8.5 %(69 mmol/mol) and/or diabetes-related emotional/behavioural difficulties who had received specialist multidisciplinary input for ≥2 years completed 6-sessions of BT over 9-weeks. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, on completing 5-consecutive weekly sessions (post-) and at session 6, 1-month after (follow-up). RESULTS: Of 66 participants mean age 37.9 years, mean age at T1D diagnosis 22.0 years, and median T1D duration 14 years, 54 completed BT. HbA1c improved from baseline to follow-up (9.7 ± 1.9 %-8.8 ± 1.3 %, p < 0.001), as did diabetes distress (DD: total score 49.2 ± 7.8 baseline, 38.9 ± 14.7 post- and 32.8 ± 11.7 follow-up, p < 0.001). All DD subscales of emotional burden, and physician, regimen, and interpersonal distress, improved (p < 0.001). Consistent results were observed for patients on multiple daily injections and continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion therapy. CONCLUSIONS: BT based on a functional-analytic and behavioural self-management model holds promise as an effective means of improving HbA1c and reducing DD in adults with T1D.

Self-Care Behaviour of Patients With Breast Cancer in the Management of Side Effects of Chemotherapy.

Aim The breast is the leading site of cancer among females. Chemotherapy is the standard treatment of breast cancer and it results in multiple side effects. Apart from pharmacological management, self-care behaviors may significantly influence the management of these side effects. The study aimed to assess the self-care behavior of patients with breast cancer in the management of side effects of chemotherapy. Methods A longitudinal descriptive study was conducted at the Daycare chemotherapy unit of the Radio Therapy Department, Government Medical College Hospital Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. In total, 170 female patients with breast cancer receiving their first cycle of chemotherapy participated in the study. Self-care behavior was the primary outcome variable of the study. Sociodemographic and clinical data were measured by using a structured questionnaire. The severity of side effects and self-care behaviors for their management were measured by a Self Care Diary (SCD). Result A total of 170 with breast cancer receiving chemotherapy participated in the study. The severity of side effects and self-care behaviors for their management were measured at two separate time intervals, T1 and T2. Severe fatigue was found in 80.0% of participants at T1 and 61.2% at T2. Vomiting (47.7%), mucositis (48.2%), and nausea (49.1%) were also found to be severe at T1, but these side effects were moderate (53.8%, 58.8%, and 51.8% respectively) at T2. Despite the high number of self-care behaviors used to prevent infection, nausea/vomiting, bleeding, decreased appetite, sleeping difficulty, and constipation, overall self-care behaviors were found to be poor. A negative correlation was found between self-care behavior and side effects of chemotherapy. Conclusion The study revealed a negative correlation between self-care behaviors and side effects. This indicates that supportive education and training should be given to patients and caregivers to enhance the self-care behaviors of patients to manage the side effects.

Using the Behaviour Change Wheel to develop an oral hygiene self-care intervention for Punjabi immigrant adults: an illustrative example.

Background: This article describes the development of an oral hygiene self-care behaviour change intervention (Safeguard Your Smile [SYS]) for Punjabi immigrant adults, using the Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW) theoretical framework. Methods: The 3 stages and 8 steps of the BCW were followed to develop the face-to-face SYS intervention. Identification of the problem in behavioural terms was enabled by referring to the results of a qualitative focus group (FG) previously conducted by the research team. Following the BCW method, the sources of behaviour were defined in terms of capability, opportunity, and motivation. Appropriate intervention functions, policy categories, behaviour change techniques (BCTs), and modes of delivery were then identified, selected, and mapped. Concrete strategies were chosen to bring about the desired oral hygiene self-care behavioural change. Results: Two main barriers to oral hygiene self-care faced by Punjabi immigrant adults were identified from the original FG: 1) inadequate knowledge and 2) inconsistent daily routine. Oral hygiene self-care behaviour was designated as a target behaviour, detailing frequency, duration, and technique. Five intervention functions (education, training, modelling, environmental restructuring, and enablement) and 2 policy categories (communication and service provision) were identified to influence the capability, opportunity, and motivation related to oral hygiene self-care behaviour. Nine BCTs were selected to influence desired oral hygiene self-care behaviour among adults. Conclusion: The development process for this SYS intervention may be employed by researchers to design a behaviour change intervention for other populations. However, additional strategies tailored to each specific context and population must be incorporated.

Contexte: Cet article décrit le développement d'une intervention de changement de comportement en matière de soins personnels d'hygiène buccodentaire à l'intention des immigrants pendjabis appelée Safeguard Your Smile (SYS), en utilisant le cadre théorique de la « roue de changement de comportement ¼ (RCC). Méthodologie: Les 3 stades et les 8 étapes de la RCC ont été suivis pour élaborer l'intervention de SYS en personne. Cibler le problème en matière de comportement a été rendu possible en se référant aux résultats d'un groupe de discussion qualitatif (GD) précédemment mené par l'équipe de recherche. Les sources du comportement ont été définies en matière de capacité, d'opportunité et de motivation, selon la méthode de la RCC. Les rôles d'intervention, les catégories de politiques, les techniques de changement de comportement (TCC) et les modes de prestation appropriés ont ensuite été ciblés, sélectionnés et répertoriés. Des stratégies concrètes ont été choisies pour obtenir le changement de comportement souhaité en matière de soins personnels d'hygiène buccodentaire. Résultats: Deux principaux obstacles aux soins buccodentaires personnels auxquels sont confrontés les immigrants pendjabis ont été ciblés dans le GD initial : 1) des connaissances inadéquates et 2) des habitudes quotidiennes incohérentes. Le comportement de soins personnels d'hygiène buccodentaire a été défini comme un comportement cible, détaillant la fréquence, la durée et la technique. Cinq rôles d'intervention (éducation, formation, modelage, restructuration de l'environnement et habilitation) et 2 catégories de politiques (communication et prestation de services) ont été ciblés pour influencer la capacité, l'opportunité et la motivation liées au comportement de soins personnels d'hygiène buccodentaire. Neuf TCC ont été sélectionnés pour influencer le comportement souhaité en matière d'hygiène buccodentaire chez les adultes. Conclusion: Le processus de développement de cette intervention SYS peut être utilisé par les chercheurs pour concevoir une intervention de changement de comportement pour d'autres populations. Cependant, des stratégies supplémentaires adaptées à chaque contexte et population spécifiques doivent être incorporées.

The effects of a smartphone-enhanced nurse-facilitated self-care intervention for Chinese hypertensive patients: A randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: For hypertensive patients, self-care is of the utmost importance in disease management and health maintenance. However, due to inadequate motivation and self-efficacy in performing self-care behaviours, satisfactory self-care is difficult to initiate and maintain. Smartphone-based interventions with support from nurses may be an alternative way to improve self-care behaviours and blood pressure control. Therefore, a randomised controlled trial was conducted to test the effects of a smartphone-enhanced nurse-facilitated self-care intervention for hypertensive people. OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of a smartphone-enhanced nurse-facilitated self-care intervention on improving blood pressure control, anthropometric parameters, and self-care amongst Chinese hypertensive patients from two community health service centres. DESIGN: This study was a single-blinded, two-arm randomised controlled trial with a repeated-measures design. SETTINGS: Participants were recruited from two community health service centres in China from March 2018 to June 2018. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 210 patients with hypertension were randomly allocated to either the intervention or control group (n = 105 per group). METHODS: Participants in the intervention group received six individual weekly education and consultation sessions provided by a nurse in the first 6 weeks and a researcher-developed smartphone application for 12 weeks. The sessions consisted of health education, individual self-care planning, daily records of physical health status and lifestyle behaviour, and an automated weekly health report. Data on systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, body weight, waist circumference, and self-care (behaviour, motivation, and self-efficacy) were collected at baseline, the 6th week, and 12th week after joining the study. A generalised estimating equation model was used to analyse the outcome. RESULTS: A total of 191 patients (91%) completed outcome measurements at the three time points. Compared with the control group at the 6th and 12th week follow-ups, the intervention group exhibited significant reductions in systolic blood pressure (T1: ß = -7.29, T2: ß = -11.07), diastolic blood pressure (T1: ß = -4.80, T2: ß = -7.50), body weight, body mass index, and waist circumference, and a significant improvement in self-care (behaviour, motivation, and self-efficacy). At the 12th week follow-up, the proportion of participants with BP < 140/90 mmHg in the intervention group (31%) was significantly higher than that in the control group (9%, p = 0.003). CONCLUSION: The smartphone-enhanced nurse-facilitated self-care intervention could improve blood pressure, anthropometric parameters, and self-care amongst Chinese hypertensive people in two communities. Its long-term effects amongst diverse hypertensive patient populations can be examined in a future study. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: The smartphone-enhanced nurse-facilitated self-care intervention improved BP control and self-care, which is an effective alternative to hypertension management. REGISTRATION NUMBER: This study was registered at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR-IOR-17014227).

Foot self-care behaviour in type 2 diabetes adults with and without comorbid heart failure.

AIMS: To compare the correlates of foot self-care behaviours among type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) adults with and without comorbid heart failure (HF). DESIGN: Cross-sectional, correlational, comparative design. METHODS: A 210 T2D adults (105 with HF and 105 without HF) participated from August-December 2020. Foot self-care behaviour was measured using the foot care subscale of the Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities (SDSCA) instrument. A stepwise logistic regression analysis was used to explore variables predicting foot self-care behaviour. RESULTS: The participants' mean age was 58.7 ± 10.9 years. Poor foot self-care behaviour was reported in T2D adults both with (53.3%) and without (54.3%) HF. Participants with HF-comorbidity were statistically significantly older and had higher total daily medication intake. Household income and the total number of daily medications statistically significantly predicted foot self-care behaviour in HF-comorbid T2D adults. Marital status, social support and body mass index predicted foot self-care behaviour in the non-HF group.

Factors related to self-care behaviors among hospitalized patients with heart failure in Japan, based on the European Heart Failure Self-Care Behaviour Scale.

[Purpose] The characteristics of heart failure in hospitalized patients with poor self-care behaviors are unknown. We investigated factors associated with self-care behaviors by using the European Heart Failure Self-Care Behaviour Scale (EHFScBS) in heart failure patients based on three comprehensive concepts. [Participants and Methods] This was a cross-sectional single-center study of heart failure patients hospitalized at a tertiary-care hospital. We investigated age, gender, family living together/apart, employment, and the Specific Activity Scale (SAS). A physical therapist provided the EHFScBS one time to determine the patients' pre-hospital self-care behavior status. The 12 items of the EHFScBS were classified into the following three categories: Maintenance, Monitoring, and Management. [Results] The median age of the 39 consecutive patients was 81 years. A multiple regression analysis revealed that the factors exhibiting significant associations were the SAS score (ß=0.504) for Management and age (ß=-0.403) for the total EHFScBS score (adjusted by the number of hospitalizations for heart failure). Maintenance and Monitoring were not significantly associated with the survey items. [Conclusion] These data indicate that self-care education for hospitalized patients with heart failure leads to individualized approaches based on characteristics such as age and physical activity capacity.

Validation of the ELAN-HF Score and self-care behaviour on the nurse-led heart failure clinic after admission for heart failure.

AIM: To validate the predictive value of the European coLlaboration on Acute decompeNsated Heart Failure (ELAN-HF) score, and to assess the effect of self-care behaviour on readmission and mortality in patients after admission with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). DESIGN: Quantitative, prospective, single centre, cohort study. METHODS: N-Terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels were measured on admission and discharge, and were used together with clinical and laboratory parameters to calculate the ELAN-HF score. Patients were stratified into four risk groups (low, intermediate, high, very high) according to their ELAN-HF score. The performance of the ELAN-HF score was evaluated and compared to the original study. Self-care behaviour was assessed by the European Heart Failure Self-care Behaviour Scale (EHFScBS-9). Survival analysis was used to estimate the association between both scores and re-admission for HF and/or all-cause mortality within 180 days. RESULTS: 88 patients were included. The median age of the study population was 75 years (IQR 69-83), 43% was female. NYHA III/IV functional class was present at discharge in 68 patients (85%) and 27 patients (34%) had a left ventricular ejection fraction < 40%. Complete data and 180 day follow up was available for 80 patients. 55% reached the endpoint of readmission and/or all-cause mortality. There was a significant association between the ELAN-HF score and re-admission and/or mortality < 180 days (HR = 1.25, 95% CI 1.08-1.45, p = 0.003). The median EHFScBS-9 score was 68.1 (IQR 58.3 - 77.8). There was no significant association between the EHFScBS-9 score and readmission and/or mortality < 180 days (HR = 1.01, 95% CI 0.99-1.03, p = 0.174). CONCLUSION: This study confirms the validity and therefore the potential of the ELAN-HF score to triage patients with ADHF before discharge. Using this score may optimize the follow-up treatment on the nurse-led heart failure clinic in order to decrease readmission and mortality. Self-care behaviour was non-significantly associated with readmission and/or mortality in our study population. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study has been registered with the ethics committee MEC-U (Nieuwegein, The Netherlands), registration nr: V.160999/W18.208/HG/mk.

The relationship between self-care, long-term mortality, and heart failure hospitalization: insights from a real-world cohort study.

AIMS: The assumption that improved self-care in the setting of heart failure (HF) care necessarily translates into improvements in long-term mortality and/or hospitalization is not well established. We aimed to study the association between self-care and long-term mortality and other major adverse HF events (MAHFE). METHODS AND RESULTS: We conducted an observational, prospective, cohort study of 1123 consecutive patients with chronic HF. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality. We used the European Heart Failure Self-care Behaviour Scale 9-item version (EHFSCBS-9) to measure global self-care (overall score) and three specific dimensions of self-care including autonomy-based adherence, consulting behaviour and provider-based adherence. After a mean follow-up of 3.3 years, all-cause death occurred in 487 patients (43%). In adjusted analysis, higher EHFScBS-9 scores (better self-care) at baseline were associated with lower risk of all-cause death [hazard ratio (HR) 0.993, 95% confidence interval (CI) (0.988-0.997), P-value = 0.002], cardiovascular (CV) death [HR 0.989, 95% CI (0.981-0.996), P-value = 0.003], HF hospitalization [HR 0.993, 95% CI (0.988-0.998), P-value = 0.005], and the combination of MAHFE [HR 0.995, 95% CI (0.991-0.999), P-value = 0.018]. Similarly, impaired global self-care [HR 1.589, 95% CI (1.201-2.127), P-value = 0.001], impaired autonomy-based adherence [HR 1.464, 95% CI (1.114-1.923), P-value = 0.006], and impaired consulting behaviour dimensions [HR 1.510, 95% CI (1.140-1.923), P-value = 0.006] were all associated with higher risk of all-cause mortality. CONCLUSION: In this study, we have shown that worse self-care is an independent predictor of long-term mortality (both, all-cause and CV), HF hospitalization, and the combinations of these endpoints in patients with chronic HF. Important dimensions of self-care such as autonomy-based adherence and consulting behaviour also determine the risk of all these outcomes in the long term.

Association between sleep quality and self-care in adults with heart failure: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Sleep disturbance is one of the most common symptoms among heart failure patients. Sleep disturbance reduces quality of life and leads to higher rates of mortality. It may affect the ability of patients to perform adequate self-care. Although some research has evaluated the association between sleep quality and heart failure self-care, a synthesis of the most recent available evidence is lacking. AIMS: This systematic review aimed to assess the association between sleep quality and self-care in adults with heart failure. METHODS: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses methodology was used. Medline, CINAHL, PsycINFO and SCOPUS were searched. Observational, case-control and cohort studies were considered. The quality of the studies was evaluated with the Joanna Briggs Institute's Critical Appraisal Tools. RESULTS: Six articles were included. Association between sleep quality and self-care was reported by three studies. One of these did not find an association between sleep disturbance and heart failure self-care, while the other two studies did. An association between sleep quality and medication adherence was reported by three studies. All three of these studies found associations between these two variables. Studies have measured similar but different constructs. Two studies assessed sleep quality, while four other studies measured excessive daytime sleepiness. Half of the studies examined self-care, while the other half measured medication adherence. CONCLUSIONS: Although the evidence should be strengthened, sleep quality seems to affect self-care in heart failure patients. The mechanism underlying the effect of sleep quality on heart failure self-care remains unclear. Future longitudinal interaction analyses could be useful to clarify this mechanism.

Self-Care in Heart Failure Inpatients: What Is the Role of Gender and Pathophysiological Characteristics? A Cross-Sectional Multicentre Study.

Heart failure is often characterised by low exercise capacity and a great impairment of performance in the activities of daily living. The correct management of the disease can prevent the worsening of symptoms and promote a better quality of life. The aims of this study are to understand the relationship of gender and pathophysiological characteristics with self-care behaviour and to evaluate the self-care behaviour in a sample of Portuguese heart failure inpatients, using the Self-Care of Heart Failure Index (SCHFI). A cross-sectional multicentre study enrolling 225 heart failure inpatients from eight hospitals from Portugal was performed. At admission, each patient's functional capacity was evaluated as well as their self-care behaviour, using the SCHFI Portuguese v6.2. A comparison between self-care behaviour with gender was performed. The patients' mean age was 68.4 ± 10.7 years old, 68% were male and 82.3% had reduced ejection fraction. A mean value of 47.9, 35.6 and 38.8 points was found in the SCHFI score of the sections self-care maintenance, self-care management and self-care confidence, respectively. Heart failure inpatients present inadequate levels of self-care behaviour. The results do not suggest a relationship between gender and pathophysiological characteristics with self-care behaviour.

A constructivist approach to teaching patients with heart failure: results from an intervention study.

AIMS: Despite published guidelines emphasizing the importance of education in the management of heart failure (HF), the most effective method of education remains unknown. The aim of this study was to test the efficacy of constructivist teaching method (CTM) on the patients with HF. METHODS AND RESULTS: This is a single-centre, randomized controlled trial. Patients in the intervention group were educated using the CTM in five phases: orientation, elicitation, restructuring, application, and review. The duration of intervention was 6 months. For the study outcome measures, five questionnaires were used: Atlanta Heart Failure Knowledge Test (AHFK), Minnesota Living with Heart Failure (HMLHFQ), Self-Efficacy for Appropriate Medication Use Scale (SEAMS), European Heart Failure Self-care Behaviour Scale (EHFScBS-9), and Duke Activity Status Index (DASI). A total of 122 adults (83.6% male, mean age ± standard deviation 67.1 ± 12.3 years) were enrolled in the study; 61 in the intervention group and 61 in the control group. At 6 months, the knowledge, the quality of life, the self-efficacy for appropriate medication use, the self-care behaviour, and the activity were improved in both groups but the degree of change was greater in the intervention group as indicated from the results of repeated measurements analysis of variance (P < 0.001). Significantly lower proportion of readmission at hospital at 1 month (8.2% vs. 23%, P = 0.025), and 6 months (13.1% vs. 36.1%, P = 0.003) were found for the intervention group. CONCLUSIONS: Training of HF patients through the CTM helps effectively manage the disease while significantly reducing hospital readmissions due to decompensation.

The effects of a self-regulation programme on self-care behaviour in patients with heart failure: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Self-care behaviour is important for patients with heart failure to prevent disease progression. More than half of patients have poor self-care behaviour. Self-regulation theory emphasizes that patients need to initiate monitoring of their symptoms, identify their own problems, and perform appropriate self-care behaviour. However, studies focused on interventions based on self-regulation theory for patients with heart failure are limited. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects of a self-regulation programme on self-care behaviour in patients with heart failure. DESIGN: A randomized controlled trial. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: Eighty-two patients with heart failure were recruited from a cardiovascular outpatient department at a teaching hospital in northern Taiwan. METHODS: Participants were randomly assigned to the intervention (n = 41) or control group (n = 41). The intervention group participated in a 4-week self-regulation programme, including one 20-to-30-min, face-to-face individual self-regulation education session and 15- to 20-min telephone follow-up counselling sessions twice per week for four weeks. The control group received only routine outpatient care. Self-care behaviour was measured by the Self-Care of Heart Failure Index at baseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks after patients were enroled. RESULTS: The intervention group reported improvements in self-care behaviours, including self-maintenance and self-confidence subscale scores, after four weeks of the self-regulation programme. In contrast, the control group showed no significant differences. Compared with the control group, the intervention group exhibited significantly greater improvements in self-care maintenance (B = 3.74, p = 0.01), self-care management (B = 6.33, p = 0.004), and self-care confidence (B = 5.15, p = 0.003) at four weeks but showed significantly greater improvements only in self-care management (B = 6.97, p = 0.03) and self-care confidence (B = 6.24, p = 0.001) at 8 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirmed that a self-regulation programme could effectively improve self-care behaviour in patients with heart failure. Further studies with multicentre randomized controlled trials and larger populations of heart failure patients are necessary to evaluate the effect of this self-regulation programme in various regions and countries. Tweetable abstract: A home-based self-regulation programme could effectively improve self-care behaviour in patients with heart failure.

A Systematic Review of the Impact of Foot Care Education on Self Efficacy and Self Care in Patients With Diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: This review aims to assess the evidence supporting the impact of patient foot care education on self efficacy, self care behaviour, and self care knowledge in individuals with diabetes. METHODS: This systematic review was registered prospectively on the PROSPERO database (CRD42019106171). Ovid EMBASE and MEDLINE databases were searched from 1946 to the end of March 2019, using search terms related to the domains diabetic foot, patient education, self efficacy, self care behaviour, and self care knowledge. All included studies were prospective, randomised controlled trials that assessed foot care education interventions in individuals with diabetes and recorded an outcome related to self efficacy, self care behaviour, and/or self care knowledge. RESULTS: Thirteen randomised controlled trials were included, reporting on a total of 3948 individuals. The risk of bias was high or unclear in 11 of the 13 included studies, and low in two studies. Both the education interventions delivered, and the outcome assessment tools used were heterogenous across included studies: meta-analysis was therefore not performed. Eight of 11 studies identified significantly better foot self care behaviour scores in individuals randomised to education compared with controls. Self efficacy scores were significantly better in education groups in four of five studies reporting this primary outcome. Foot care knowledge was significantly better in intervention vs. control in three of seven studies. In general, studies assessing secondary endpoints including quality of life and ulcer/amputation incidence tended not to identify significant clinical improvements. CONCLUSION: The available evidence is of inadequate quality to reliably conclude that foot care education has a positive impact on foot self care behaviour and self efficacy in individuals with diabetes. Quality data supporting accompanying benefits on quality of life or ulcer/amputation incidence are also lacking and should be considered as an important outcome measure in future studies.

Factors related to self-care behaviours among patients with diabetic foot ulcers.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To examine the level of self-care behaviours among patients with diabetic foot ulcers and identify factors related to their self-care behaviours. BACKGROUND: This study focused on the self-care behaviours of patients diagnosed with diabetic foot ulcers, a complication of diabetes. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study design was adopted. METHODS: From July-August 2018, 131 outpatients and inpatients with diabetic foot ulcers were given a survey questionnaire regarding self-care behaviours and expected related factors at two Korean hospitals. In this study, self-care behaviours were diabetes management and diabetic foot care. Demographic, disease-related and laboratory characteristics were collected. The data were analysed in terms of descriptive statistics, a t test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficient and stepwise multiple regression. STROBE checklist was used as the guideline for this study. RESULTS: Moderate levels of self-care behaviours were found. The stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that diabetes management was significantly related to perceived family support, experience of diabetic education, perceived stress, a problem-focused coping style, experience of hospitalisation and comorbidity. Furthermore, diabetic foot care was significantly associated with the experience of diabetic education, perceived family support, and serum level of erythrocyte sedimentation rate and haemoglobin A1C. CONCLUSIONS: Perceived family support was the main factor affecting diabetes management, and diabetic foot care was greatly affected by the experience of diabetic education. It is necessary to develop diabetes education programmes and nursing interventions to increase family support to improve the self-care behaviours of patients with diabetic foot ulcers. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Self-care behaviours among patients with diabetic foot ulcers are important, as they affect healing of the wound and the quality of life. Further development of family-based diabetes education or programmes is recommended to promote the self-care behaviours of patients with diabetic foot ulcers.

Trajectory of self-care behaviour in patients with heart failure: the impact on clinical outcomes and influencing factors.

BACKGROUND: Patients' self-care behaviour is still suboptimal in many heart failure (HF) patients and underlying mechanisms on how to improve self-care need to be studied. AIMS: (1) To describe the trajectory of patients' self-care behaviour over 1 year, (2) to clarify the relationship between the trajectory of self-care and clinical outcomes, and (3) to identify factors related to changes in self-care behaviour. METHODS: In this secondary analysis of the COACH-2 study, 167 HF patients (mean age 73 years) were included. Self-care behaviour was assessed at baseline and after 12 months using the European Heart Failure Self-care Behaviour scale. The threshold score of ⩾70 was used to define good self-care behaviour. RESULTS: Of all patients, 21% had persistent poor self-care behaviour, and 27% decreased from good to poor. Self-care improved from poor to good in 10%; 41% had a good self-care during both measurements. Patients who improved self-care had significantly higher perceived control than those with persistently good self-care at baseline. Patients who decreased their self-care had more all-cause hospitalisations (35%) and cardiovascular hospitalisations (26%) than patients with persistently good self-care (2.9%, p < 0.05). The prevalence of depression increased at 12 months in both patients having persistent poor self-care (0% to 21%) and decreasing self-care (4.4% to 22%, both p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Perceived control is a positive factor to improve self-care, and a decrease in self-care is related to worse outcomes. Interventions to reduce psychological distress combined with self-care support could have a beneficial impact on patients decreasing or persistently poor self-care behaviour.

Adherence to diet and medication and the associated factors among patient with chronic heart failure in a multi-ethnic society.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate diet adherence, medication adherence and self-care behaviour among patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) in a multi-ethnic society and identify the significant factors associated with their diet and medication adherence. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive correlational study was conducted with a convenience sample of 107 patients with CHF recruited from two cardiology wards of a public tertiary hospital in Singapore. Study variables were measured using the Dietary Sodium Restriction Questionnaire, the Medication Adherence Rating Scale-5 items and the European Heart Failure Self-care Behaviour Scale-12 items. RESULTS: Our sample reported positive attitudes towards diet adherence, poor self-care behaviour, and good medication adherence. The multiple linear regression results indicated that lower income, Chinese ethnicity, diabetic complications, current smoking, lower New York Heart Association classification I and II, and poorer self-care behaviour predicted poorer diet adherence. In addition, absence of hypertension, having non-myocardial infarction as a cause of CHF, and moderately diminished ejection fraction were identified as significant predictors of poorer medication adherence. CONCLUSION: The findings from this study have established the need to improve current education and rehabilitation programmes for patients with CHF by addressing those factors significantly influencing their adherence to diet and medication.

Association between subthreshold depression and self-care behaviour in people with type 2 diabetes: a protocol for systematic review of observational studies.

BACKGROUND: Depression is a common comorbidity in type 2 diabetes. Studies have consistently shown that major depression is associated with decreased diabetic self-care behaviour. People with subthreshold depression experience greater functional impairment, have a poorer quality of life and use health services more than those without depressive symptoms. Although subthreshold depression impacts self-care behaviour, the relationship between subthreshold depression and diabetes self-care behaviour has not been systematically reviewed. The objective of this systematic review is to determine the association between subthreshold depression and self-care behaviour in adults with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: This protocol will follow the guideline of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols 2015 (PRISMA-P-2015). A systematic search of literature will be conducted for observational studies reporting the association between subthreshold depression and self-care behaviour in adults aged 18 years or over and diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Electronic databases including MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Emcare and CINAHL will be searched using predefined search terms. Title and abstract, full-text screening and data extraction of identified articles will be done by two reviewers independently. Discrepancies will be resolved by a third author. The methodological quality of the included studies will be assessed using The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) risk of bias tools. The review results will be presented in the form of narrative synthesis, and if sufficient studies are available and variability among the studies is low, a random effects meta-analysis will be done to quantify the result. DISCUSSION: This review will synthesise evidence on the association between subthreshold depression and self-care behaviour in type 2 diabetic adults. The findings will be useful to researchers and policymakers to determine the most effective approach to overall diabetes management. The review will also identify research gaps in the current literature and provide direction for future research in this area of study. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42018116373.

Effectiveness of "Safeguard Your Smile," an oral health literacy intervention, on oral hygiene self-care behaviour among Punjabi immigrants:A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Research shows that immigrants have higher rates of oral diseases, poorer access to dental care services, and lower levels of health literacy than their Canadian-born peers. Oral health literacy has emerged as a potential pathway to reduce oral health disparities. The scarcity of studies on oral health literacy interventions, particularly among immigrants, lent urgency to this study, the purpose of which was to evaluate the effectiveness of an oral health literacy intervention promoting oral hygiene self-care behaviour among Punjabi immigrants. METHODS: The study used a parallel group, non-blinded, randomized controlled trial design. One hundred and forty (140) Punjabi immigrants between 18 and 60 years of age were enrolled. Participants were randomly allocated to receive either the Safeguard Your Smile (SYS) intervention or a conventional pamphlet. The following outcome measures were assessed at baseline and 3 months post-intervention: self-reported oral hygiene self-care behaviour and knowledge, plaque and gingival indices, and oral health literacy. A linear mixed model for repeated measures was used to compare the intervention and control groups (between) at pre- and post-intervention (within). RESULTS: Participants who received the SYS intervention showed improvements ( p <0.0001) for the following dependent variables: oral hygiene self-care knowledge and behaviour, oral health literacy, and plaque and gingival indices. CONCLUSIONS: SYS intervention enhanced positive oral hygiene self-care behaviour among Punjabi immigrants with low oral health literacy. SYS intervention can be employed among other vulnerable groups with low levels of oral health literacy to improve oral hygiene self-care behaviour.

CONTEXTE: La recherche montre que les immigrants ont des taux plus élevés de maladies buccodentaires, plus de difficulté à accéder à des services de soins dentaires et des taux plus bas de littératie en santé que leurs pairs nés au Canada. La littératie en santé buccodentaire s'est avérée être un moyen potentiel pour réduire les disparités de santé buccodentaire. La pénurie d'études sur les interventions de littératie en santé buccodentaire, notamment parmi les immigrants, confirme l'urgence de cette étude, laquelle vise à évaluer l'efficacité d'une intervention de littératie en santé buccodentaire qui fait la promotion du comportement de soins d'hygiène dentaire personnels parmi les immigrants pendjabis. MÉTHODOLOGIE: L'étude a utilisé un modèle d'essai comparatif randomisé à groupe parallèle, non à l'insu. Cent quarante (140) immigrants pendjabis de 18 à 60 ans ont été inscrits. Les participants ont été répartis aléatoirement pour recevoir soit l'intervention Safeguard Your Smile (SYS) ou un dépliant conventionnel. Les critères d'évaluation suivants ont été évalués au début de l'intervention et trois mois après l'intervention : le savoir et le comportement de soins d'hygiène dentaire personnels déclarés par le participant, les indices de plaque et de gencive et la littératie en santé buccodentaire. Le modèle linéaire mixte pour les mesures répétées a été utilisé pour comparer les groupes d'intervention et de contrôle pré (inter) et post (intra) interventionnels. RÉSULTATS: Les participants qui ont reçu l'intervention SYS ont montré une amélioration ( p <0.0001) dans les variables dépendantes suivantes : le savoir et le comportement en matière de soins d'hygiène dentaire personnels, la littératie en santé buccodentaire et les indices de plaque et de gencive. CONCLUSIONS: L'intervention SYS a amélioré le comportement positif en matière de soins d'hygiène dentaire personnels parmi les immigrants pendjabis ayant une littératie en santé buccodentaire faible. L'intervention SYS peut être utilisée parmi d'autres groupes vulnérables ayant un faible taux de littératie en santé buccodentaire afin d'améliorer le comportement de soins d'hygiène buccodentaire personnels.

Post-discharge short message service improves short-term clinical outcome and self-care behaviour in chronic heart failure.

AIMS: In addition to giving optimal medical and device therapy, promoting self-care of chronic heart failure (CHF) patients also plays an important role in comprehensive disease management for better outcomes. The study was aimed to investigate whether short message service (SMS) would help to improve death or readmission-free survival and self-care behaviour in CHF patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: This was a randomized controlled trial. Between December 2011 and September 2015, patients admitted with decompensated CHF in a tertiary referral hospital who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were enrolled and randomized to receive SMS, structured telephone support (STS), or usual care after discharge. All patients were followed up to 180 days after discharge by phone call or clinic visit. Primary endpoint was the 180 day composite event, defined as all-cause mortality or readmission. Secondary endpoints included self-care behaviour and quality of life. Seven hundred sixty-seven patients (61 ± 15 years, 56.5% male) were finally randomized to receive SMS (n = 252), STS (n = 255), or usual care (n = 260). Baseline characteristics were similar among the three groups. Five hundred twenty-five (68.4%) patients were in New York Heart Association Class III or IV, and 472 (61.5%) patients had an ejection fraction of <50%. During a 180 day follow-up, 76 (9.9%) patients died and 274 (35.7%) patients experienced at least one readmission. In a short-term follow-up of 30 days, there was no difference in mortality and the composite endpoint among the three groups (SMS vs. STS vs. usual care: 2.8% vs. 3.1% vs. 3.8% for mortality, P = 0.786; 12.3% vs. 14.5% vs. 15.4% for the composite endpoint, P = 0.588). The 180 day composite event rate was significantly lower in the SMS and STS groups (50.4% vs. 41.3% and 36.5%, both P < 0.05) than in the usual care group, but no difference was observed between the two phone-based intervention groups (P = 0.268). Although there was no difference between the two groups, better self-care behaviour was reported in the SMS and STS groups than in the control group (medication compliance, 78.9% vs. 81.4% vs. 69.5%, P = 0.011; water restriction, 70.8% vs. 74.5% vs. 61.5%, P = 0.013). Quality-of-life score was similar among the three groups at 180 days (P = 0.526). CONCLUSIONS: In CHF patients, post-discharge SMS, which appeared as efficient as STS, reduced the 180 day composite event and improved self-care behaviour. SMS intervention could be integrated into CHF management.