An explorative study on the efficacy and feasibility of the use of motivational interviewing to improve footwear adherence in persons with diabetes at high-risk of foot ulceration

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Abstract

In this explorative study we assessed the effect and feasibility of using motivational interviewing to improve footwear adherence in persons with diabetes who are at high-risk of foot ulceration and show low adherence to wearing prescribed custom-made footwear. Thirteen persons with diabetes, ulcer history, and low footwear adherence (i.e. <80% of steps taken in prescription footwear) were randomly assigned to standard education (i.e. verbal and written instructions) or to standard education added with two 45-minute sessions of motivational interviewing. Adherence was objectively measured over seven days using ankle and shoe-worn sensors and calculated as the percentage of total steps that prescribed footwear was worn. Adherence was assessed at home and away from home at baseline, at one week and 3 months post-intervention. Feasibility was assessed for interviewer proficiency to apply motivational interviewing and for protocol executability. Median[min-max] baseline, one-week and 3-month adherence at home was 49[6-63]%, 84[5-98]%, and 40[4-80]%, respectively, in the motivational interviewing group, and 35[13-64]%, 33[15-55]%, and 31[3-66]%, respectively, in the standard education group. Baseline, one-week, and 3-month adherence away from home was 91[79-100]%, 97[62-99]% and 92[86-98]%, respectively, in the motivational interviewing group, and 78[32-97]%, 91[28-98]%, and 93[57-100]%, respectively, in the standard education group. None of the differences were statistically significant. Interviewers proficiency was good and the protocol could be successfully executed in the given time frame. Footwear adherence at home increases one week after motivational interviewing to clinically relevant but not statistically significant levels (i.e. 80%), but then returns over time to baseline levels. Away from home, adherence is already sufficient at baseline and remains like that over time. The use of motivational interviewing seems feasible for the given purpose and patient group. These findings provide input to larger trials and provisionally suggest that additional or adjunctive therapy may be needed to better preserve adherence
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)90-99
JournalJournal of the american podiatric medical association
Volume108
Issue number2
Early online date2017
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2018

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