[Use of information and communication technologies to promote self-management of diabetic foot ulcersUso de tecnologías de informado e comunicado para promover o autogerenciamento das úlceras do pé diabético].

INTRODUCTION

Using information and communication technologies in nursing educational interventions facilitates self-management processes to adapt to chronic health conditions.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effect of a nursing educational intervention to promote self-management and prevent diabetic foot ulcers in Colombian adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus through information and communication technologies.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A quasi-experimental, pre- and post-intervention study was conducted with 82 adults attending the chronic patient consultation of a second-level hospital in the department of Boyacá, Colombia. Participants were randomly allocated to the experimental and comparison groups.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences between the experimental and the comparison groups in terms of preintervention self-management scores. However, the experimental group's mean self-management score was significantly higher than the control group's six weeks after the intervention (p<0.005); the primary outcome was self-management behaviors from foot care. Nonparametric Wilcoxon and Mann Whitney tests were used.

DISCUSSION

nursing interventions should be supported by theoretical approaches specific to the discipline, which allow visualizing specific results, in this case self-management, which requires strategies such as knowledge, skills and social support that will support adaptation to situations of chronic illness.

CONCLUSIONS

The educational intervention based on the use of information and communication technologies improved self-management for preventing diabetic foot injuries, achieving a change in people's behavior.