The Development of Foot Care Model Using Coconut Shell Material in Community Among Type 2 in Diabetic Mellitus Patients in One Sub–District, Suphanburi Province, Thailand

Abstract

          This research and development research was designed to develop a foot care model using coconut materials for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). The study was used qualitative study and quasi experimental study, consisted of 3 phases including Phase 1: Situation assessment; Phase 2: Development of Foot Care Model and searching and selecting local wisdom; Phase 3: Implementing the developed model. This study conceptual framework was based on self-efficacy concept. The situational assessment was a study of the complications of diabetic mellitus disease by analyzing the patient’s history of illness at one sub-district hospitals in one sub–district, Suphanburi Province. A simple random sampling  method was used to select 60 people and equally divided them into an experimental and control group. A set of questionnaires were administered at before-intervention and post-intervention after eight weeks.

          The research result was showed that the use of Coconut materials for foot massage to develop a foot care program for DM patients type2 validated by experts in medical science and Thai traditional medicine. The activity schedule and developed foot care skill were identified and implemented with health education. It was found that the mean scores of the foot numbness and peripheral arterial strictness in the intervention group were significantly lower than those of the control group (p<.05). After eight weeks, it was determined that an overall satisfaction with the foot care program of the DM patients was at high level (M=4.48, SD=.71).