Effectiveness of Health Education on Quality of Life in Diabetic Foot Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Background: Diabetic foot is a leading cause of hospital admissions among diabetic patients and presents a significant healthcare burden. Foot ulcers can lead to physical disability, reduced quality of life (QoL), limb loss, and even death. Nurses play a crucial role in enhancing the QoL of diabetic patients by implementing education programs that promote self-care for diabetic foot prevention and management.Aim: This study evaluates the effectiveness of self-management education on improving the QoL of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients with diabetic foot.Design: A quasi-experimental study was conducted to assess the impact of nursing education on the QoL of T2DM patients with diabetic foot. The Health Belief Model (HBM) was employed for the education program, and the EQ-5D tool was used for QoL evaluation. The study was conducted among patients attending diabetic clinics in Duhok and Akre.Methods: Sixty diabetic foot patients were divided into experimental and control groups using non-random selection between October 1, 2020, and April 10, 2020. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25.Results: Among the 60 patients, the most common age group was 54-63 years (40% in the experimental group, 50% in the control group). Male participants outnumbered females (73.3% vs. 60%). After three months of follow-up, the experimental group showed a statistically significant improvement in all QoL dimensions (Mobility, Self-care, Usual activities, Pain/discomfort, Anxiety/depression) with p<0.000. Regression analysis revealed no significant correlation between QoL and demographic variables (p>0.05).Conclusions: Diabetic foot ulcers negatively impact QoL, but self-management education significantly improves outcomes. Behavior modification through education is essential to control foot ulcers and enhance QoL in diabetic foot patients.