Developing an educational resource about preventing foot problems for people with diabetes: Part 2 – Creating and testing the resource and assessing its initial impact

Abstract

One of the major complications of diabetes is the development of nerve damage and poor circulation, both of which can lead to foot problems such as ulceration and serious long-term infection. These complications have heavy personal, social, and economic costs associated with them. However, it is possible to either delay or prevent the development of foot ulcers by managing diabetes successfully and following a regular footcare routine. For this preventative strategy to be successful it needs to be implemented at diagnosis, while the individual is at low risk of developing foot problems. To manage their footcare and therefore reduce the risk of diabetic complications, people need access to reliable, high-quality information. Researchers acknowledge that an individual's understanding of footcare, and their behaviour, can be positively influenced by information, though there has been little research to date examining this strategy in people who are at low risk of foot problems. This is the second of two articles describing the development of a resource aimed at people with diabetes, to help them prevent foot problems. The first article detailed the research and audit process and a series of focus groups with people with diabetes. This second article describes how the information resource was planned, written, and evaluated. It includes work to gain a consensus from health professionals about good footcare and preventative behaviour and user insight on the content, tone, style, and design and layout of the resource. The article concludes with some early evaluation of the project.

Keywords:

• Diabetes
• Footcare
• Prevention
• Consumer insight
• Consumer health information development

Acknowledgements

This work was funded entirely by SSL International plc. The authors would like to thank all of the focus group and reader's panel participants, and the health professionals who took part in the clinical consensus survey for their valuable contributions.

Conflicts of interest: Sarah Smith was funded to undertake this work by SSL international Plc (Scholl). Alistair McInnes acts as a consultant for SSL International.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Judith Anders

Judith Anders is a Podiatrist and the Principle Lead for Diabetes for SSL International plc. SSL is a focused consumer products company with global brands Durex and Scholl as well as a diverse portfolio of locally owned brands. Judith qualified as a Podiatrist 1994 and worked for several NHS trusts in both community and hospital posts. Following completion of her MSc in Practitioner Research Methods from Manchester Metropolitan University in 1998, she joined SSL International as Clinical Research Manager for Scholl footcare products. Judith leads the Scholl ‘Think Feet’, diabetic foot health awareness programme and is working with the Patient Information Forum (PIF), people with diabetes, health professionals, and key opinion leaders. She is also undertaking a PhD entitled ‘Undertaking Self Care in Diabetes’ at Lancaster University.

Sarah Smith

Sarah Smith is a freelance consumer health information specialist and a Director of the Patient Information Forum (PiF). PiF is the UK organization for consumer health information producers and providers and works to raise the standards of consumer health information. Sarah currently works in a part-time capacity for PiF, in an operational and strategic role, and for the remainder of her time works with a range of clients helping them to develop effective, high-quality information resources for consumers. She is a registered nurse and has worked in a number of information and support roles in the voluntary sector.

Alistair McInnes

Alistair McInnes is a senior lecturer in Podiatry at the School of Health Professions, University of Brighton. He has been involved with diabetes education programmes for over 25 years and has research interests in a number of aspects of diabetic foot disease and management. His current research involves several aspects of diabetic foot health education and management. He is also editor of the Diabetic Foot Journal (SB Communications Group).