Mobile Application for Adhering to Diabetic Foot Self-care: Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the effectiveness of a mobile application for adherence to foot self-care in people with type 2 diabetes at risk for diabetic foot ulcer. A double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted with people with type 2 diabetes in a secondary healthcare unit. A total of 42 patients were recruited, matched, and allocated into two groups: one (intervention group) undergoing standard nursing consultations and application use and the other (control group) receiving only standard nursing consultations. The outcome variable was the adherence to foot self-care, measured by completing questionnaires on diabetes self-care activities and adherence to foot self-care. Measures of central tendency and dispersion were calculated, in addition to bivariate associations, considering a significance level of P ≤ .05. The intragroup and intergroup analyses regarding diabetes self-care did not show statistical significance; however, the intervention group showed a considerable increase in the frequency of daily assessments ( P = .048) and adherence to foot self-care ( P = .046). The use of the app, combined with the nursing consultation, increased adherence to foot self-care of people with type 2 diabetes. Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials: U1111-1202-6318.