Introduction: Elderly patients with diabetes are at a high risk of contracting diabetic foot problems.
Self-efficacy is essential to help improve foot care behaviour.
Aim: To identify levels of self-efficacy and foot care behaviour and their relationship with demographic
characteristics in elderly patients with diabetes
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in two general hospitals in Malaysia from May to
June 2015. Diabetes patients aged 60 years with specific inclusion criteria were invited to participate
in this study. The respondents were interviewed using a set of validated questionnaires. Data were
analysed with descriptive and inferential statistics (multiple linear regression) using Statistical Package
for the Social Sciences version 20.0.
Results: Levels of foot self-efficacy (mean+31.39; standard deviation=7.76) and foot care behaviour
(mean=25.37; SD=5.88) were high. There was a positive significant relationship between foot selfefficacy
(β = 0.41, p < 0.001) and gender (β = 0.30, p < 0.001) with foot care behaviour.
Conclusion: Self-efficacy can be incorporated in diabetes education to improve foot care behaviour.
High-risk patients should be taught proper foot inspection and protection as well as the merits of skin
care to prevent the occurrence of diabetic foot problems.