DEVELOPMENT AND FORMATIVE EVALUATION OF A FOOT SELF-CARE PROGRAM FOR AFRICAN-AMERICANS WITH DIABETES

African Americans with diabetes have a higher rate of lower-extremity amputation due to diabetic foot complications than the general public. Education about proper foot care can help prevent serious diabetic fo ot complications and assist in early detection of problems. The purpos e of this project was to develop, formatively evaluate, and pilot test a self-care, take-home program for the prevention of foot problems in African Americans with diabetes. The program included a brief, one-on -one orientation session and a take-hone foot self-care packet. Throug h telephone follow-up subjects reported the following: good to excelle nt overall raring of the program, favorable reactions to the patient i nstruction booklet, an overwhelming positive response to the large han d mirror, and a positive effect on their daily foot-care practices. Th e Afrocentricity of the patient education materials was preferred by y ounger subjects; older subjects found this approach too restrictive.