The effect of short message service (SMS) on knowledge and preventive behaviors of diabetic foot ulcer in patients with diabetes type 2

Abstract

Objective: The present study aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of an educational intervention via mobile cells on foot care knowledge and foot care practices in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Material and methods: This is an interventional quasi-experimental study carried out in 4 community health centers in Andimeshk City in Iran in 2017. Of 160 patients 80 cases were randomly assigned as intervention group and 80 patients as the control one. A three-section questionnaire completed by a face-to-face interviewing used for data collection before and after the intervention and three months after the education. Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS) and Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) tests were done for both groups in a single laboratory before and three months after training.

Results: The mean age of patients in intervention group was 48.11 ± 9.7 and control group was 47.3 ± 7.9 years. The awareness of the patients related to diabetes foot care, in the intervention group after the training significantly improved (P < 0.001). The mean scores of preventive behaviors of diabetic foot significantly increased in the intervention group (P < 0.001).

Conclusion: The findings indicate that educational intervention based on short message service (SMS), resulting in improve foot care knowledge, foot care practices and metabolic control in patients with diabetes type 2.

Keywords: Diabetes type 2; Diabetic foot ulcer; Short message service.