Nonvisual Foot Inspection for People With Visual Imapirment

The purpose of this study was to find out whether a method of nonvisual foot inspection, using the senses of touch and smell, helps people with diabetes and visual impairment to find new foot problems when they are in early, easily-treated stages. All people in the study had regular foot inspections by podiatrists. The results include how people feel about the method, whether they actually did check their feet it, and whether the method helped them to discover foot problems themselves.

Data gathered over the course of 1 year: bimonthly phone calls to ask about foot care practices at home over the last week a baseline comprehensive foot evaluation and 4 additional comprehensive evaluations every 3 months Qualitative data: - Focus groups immediately after comprehensive diabetes self-management education, and 1 year later, to determine acceptability of foot care procedures and patient perceptions about effectiveness

Instruction for nonvisual foot inspection included in comprehensive diabetes self-management education

Teaching use of nonvisual senses (tactile and olfactory) to empower people with diabetes and visual impairment to perform a systematic self-examination of their own feet

Standard instructions for foot care for people with visual impairment include advice to have a sighted family member or friend check the person's feet regularly

Number of days in the last week each participants reported checking their feet for problems, using nonvisual methods (experimental group) or with assistance form someone else (comparison group)

Inclusion Criteria: Over age 18 Diagnosed with diabetes (either type 1 or type 2) Having visual impairment Exclusion Criteria: Self-reported numbness in hands Inability to pass a brief screening for decisional capacity

Williams A. Appraising the Multi-SAFE approach to low vision and diabetes: a simple technique for saving feet. Diabetes Voice 56(Special Issue 1):14-17, 2011