Health locus of control theory in diabetes: a worthwhile approach in managing diabetic foot ulcers?

The study of eye care behaviors in patients with type 2 diabetes

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of present study was to investigate eye care behaviors based on the BASNEF model and Health Locus of Control (HLOC) in patients with type 2 diabetes(T2D).

METHODS

This cross-sectional analytical study was carried out on 150 patients with T2D in Iran in 2019. The subjects were selected using simple random sampling. The data collection tools included demographic, eye self-care behavior inventory based on BASNEF model and health locus of control whose validity and reliability were confirmed. Data analysis was carried out using Independent samples-t test ANOVA, and linear regression in SPSS ver. 24.

RESULT

The results of linear regression showed that knowledge, attitude, subjective norms, enabling factors, internal HLOC, chance HLOC and external HLOC were able to predict 17% of intention to eye self-care behaviors (P < 0.001) and attitude was the strongest construct in predicting intention of eye care behavior in patients with T2D (P < 0.05). In this study, most people had internal HLOC and mean (± SD) of their internal construct was 27.42(± 2.73). Also, the enabling factors construct showed a significant correlation with the internal HLOC (r = 0.283) and behavioral intention (r = 0.348) (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The results of this study showed that attitude and enabling factors are effective constructs in predicting the intention to perform preventive behaviors of ocular complications in T2D patients. Therefore, it is recommended to organize training classes, access resources, and educational information, facilitate access to physicians for eye examinations, create new skills for care and prevention of ocular complications.

The pain, depression, disability pathway in those with low back pain: a moderation analysis of health locus of control

Low back pain (LBP) is common, impacts on the individual and society, and is a major health concern. Psychological consequences of LBP, such as depression, are significant barriers to recovery, but mechanisms for the development of depression are less well understood. One potential mechanism is the individual’s health locus of control (HLoC), that is, perception of the level of control an individual has over their health. The objective of this study is to investigate the moderation effect of HLoC on the pain–depression–disability pathway in those with LBP. The design is a nested cross-sectional analysis of two existing cohorts of patients (n=637) who had previously consulted their primary care physician about LBP. Measures were taken of HLoC, pain intensity and interference, depression, disability, and bothersomeness. Structural Equation Modeling analysis was applied to two path models that examined the pain to depression to disability pathway moderated by the HLoC constructs of Internality and Externality, respectively. Critical ratio (CR) difference tests were applied to the coefficients using pairwise comparisons. The results show that both models had an acceptable model fit and pathways were significant. CR tests indicated a significant moderation effect, with stronger pathway coefficients for depression for those who report low Internality (β 0.48), compared to those with high Internality (β 0.28). No moderation effects were found within the Externality model. HLoC Internality significantly moderates the pain–depression pathway in those with LBP, meaning that those who have a low perception of control report greater levels of depression. HLoC may signify depression among people with LBP, and could potentially be a target for intervention.

Increasing patient involvement in the diabetic foot pathway: a pilot randomized controlled trial

AIMS

This pilot study aimed to explore whether the use of an intervention to increase shared decision-making (Decision Navigation) increased decision self-efficacy and foot-treatment adherence in patients with a diabetic foot ulcer.

METHODS

Fifty-six patients with a diabetic foot ulcer were randomized to receive Decision Navigation (N = 30) or usual care (N = 26). Primary outcomes included decision self-efficacy, adherence to foot treatment as reported by the participant and adherence to foot treatment as reported by the clinician. Secondary outcomes included foot ulcer healing rate, health-related quality of life, decision conflict and decision regret.

RESULTS

Despite participants rating Decision Navigation as very helpful, mixed analyses of variance revealed no differences in decision self-efficacy or adherence between those receiving Decision Navigation and those receiving usual care. There were no differences between groups with regards to the secondary outcomes, with the exception of decision conflict which increased over time (12 weeks) for those receiving Decision Navigation.

CONCLUSIONS

An intervention that facilitated patient involvement in treatment decisions did not have any impact on decisional confidence or adherence to foot treatment. This does not provide support for the suggestion that personalized care can improve health-related outcomes at this progressed stage of the patient's disease trajectory. We suggest that the diabetic foot population may benefit from interventions aimed at increasing motivation to engage with care pathways, centred on challenging personal controllability beliefs.

The influence of beliefs about health and illness on foot care in ugandan persons with diabetic foot ulcers

Diabetes mellitus is becoming pandemic, particularly affecting Sub-Saharan Africa, and the prevalence of complications is increasing. Diabetic foot disorders are a major source of morbidity and disability. Delay in the health care process due to patients' beliefs may have deleterious consequences for limb and life in persons with diabetic foot ulcers. No previous studies of beliefs about health and illness in persons with diabetic foot ulcers living in Africa have been found. The aim of the study was to explore beliefs about health and illness among Ugandans with diabetic foot ulcers that might affect self-care and care seeking behaviour. In an explorative study with consecutive sample semi-structured interviews were held with 14 Ugandan men and women, aged 40-79, with diabetic foot ulcer. Knowledge was limited about causes, management and prevention of diabetic foot ulcers. Foot ulcers were often detected as painful sores, perceived to heal or improve, and led to stress and social isolation due to smell and reduced mobility. Most lacked awareness of the importance of complete daily foot care and seldom practised self-care. Health was described as absence of disease and pain. Many feared future health and related it to contact with nurses in the professional sector from whom they sought information, blood tests and wound dressings and desired better organised diabetes clinics offering health education and more opening hours. Many have an underutilised potential for self-care and need education urgently, delivered in well-organised diabetes clinics working to raise awareness of the threat and prevent foot ulcers.