The Effects of Educational Intervention Based on the Health Belief Model on Improving Foot Self-Care Behaviors in Older Adults

Background/Purpose: One of the most common health problems in older adults is foot and nail problems. This study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of the educational program to promote foot self-care behaviors in non-diabetic Iranian older adults based on the Health Belief Model (HBM) as a theoretical framework. Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 120 older adults visiting retirement centers were randomly selected and allocated to experimental (n=60) and control groups (n=60) in 2020. The retirement centers were located in Ahvaz City, southwest of Iran. The data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire with items based on HBM constructs and demographic variables which were completed before and two months after the intervention. The intervention consisted of four sessions implemented for the experimental group. The intervention was performed as four 45-minute weekly sessions in a month. The collected data was analyzed in SPSS-16 using Chi-square, Paired T-test, and Independent sample T-test. Results: After intervention, foot self-care behaviors scores increased in the experimental group compared to the control group (Mean differences: 1.90 +/- 2.12 vs-0.05 +/- 0.28, P <0.001). Perceived susceptibility increased significantly in the experimental group compared to the control group (2.70 +/- 2.09 vs 0.23 +/- 1.09, P <0.001). The result was the same for perceived benefits (2.07 +/- 2.64 vs-0.48 +/- 0.83, P <0.001), perceived self-efficacy (2.01 +/- 3.71 vs-0.15 +/- 1.43, P<0.001), and causes to action (2.87 +/- 4.10 vs-0.08 +/- 1.04, P <0.001). Conclusion: The results showed that the use of educational intervention based on the HBM was an effective approach to promote foot self-care behaviors in older adults.