Objectives: People with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) should check their feet and
protect them against harm, but few do. Living with a spouse contributes to
good foot care behaviour. This study explores awareness, perceived susceptibility
of, and concern about, foot problems, and reported foot care behaviour,
and ways in which a spouse may or may not contribute to foot care in
T2DM.
Methods: 1:1 interviews were conducted with 6 individuals with T2DM. Half
had a spouse half did not. There was one person at low, medium and high
risk in each sample. Each spouse participated in a separate interview, and the
dyads were interviewed together. Interviews were analysed using Applied
Thematic Analysis.
Results: All participants knew that diabetes was associated with foot problems.
Not all people with T2DM thought that they were susceptible; spouses
perceived greater susceptibility for the patient. This was unrelated to risk
level. Most people with T2DM and all spouses engaged in behaviour to identify
problems or protect feet, but rarely both. Spouses’ attitude and behaviour
did influence the patients’ own behaviour. At times spouse support was perceived
positively, and at times negatively.
Conclusion: Engaging spouses in foot care education may improve foot care
behaviour.