The Effect of Message Framing in Diabetic Foot Self-Management

This study aims to assess how effective gain- and loss-framed messages are in improving diabetic foot care behaviors and increasing self-efficacy levels compared to routine foot care messages. Study Design: A randomized controlled trial with three groups: Experimental Group 1 (Gain-Framed): Participants receive gain-framed messages emphasizing the benefits of proper foot care. Experimental Group 2 (Loss-Framed): Participants receive loss-framed messages highlighting the risks of inadequate foot care. Control Group (Routine Messaging): Participants receive standard foot care messages without specific framing. Participants: Diabetic patients recruited from Experimental Group 1, Experimental Group, and Control Group 3. Inclusion criteria include adults diagnosed with diabetes who are at risk for diabetic foot complications. Intervention: Over a period of three months, participants will receive WhatsApp messages three times a week. Gain-Framed Messages: Emphasize positive outcomes, such as preventing foot ulcers by wearing appropriate footwear. Loss-Framed Messages: Highlight negative consequences, such as the increased risk of foot infections from improper foot care. Messages will include supportive images and videos to enhance engagement and understanding. Outcome Measures: Primary Outcomes: Foot Care Behavior: Assessed using The Foot Care Behavior Scale. Self-Efficacy: Measured by the Diabetic Foot Care Self-Efficacy Scale Secondary Outcomes: Comparative effectiveness between gain-framed and loss-framed messages.Long-term behavioral changes post-intervention. Significance: This study seeks to determine the most effective messaging strategy to promote diabetic foot care, potentially informing future interventions to reduce the incidence of diabetic foot complications.