Aims

To explore the factors related to hospital-to-home transitional self-monitoring blood glucose behaviour among patients with diabetes-related foot ulcer.

Background

The 30-day readmission rate of patients with diabetes-related foot ulcer can be reduced when good glycaemic control is achieved. The practice of self-monitoring blood glucose promotes optimal glycaemic control.

Design

A comparative descriptive study.

Methods

In this study, 200 participants, who had been hospitalized due to diabetes-related foot ulcer, were recruited from August 2017 to July 2018. Before participants were discharged from the hospital, psychosocial factors (family support, threat belief, self-efficacy and knowledge) and pre-hospitalization self-monitoring blood glucose behaviour were collected using a structured questionnaire. Then, after discharge, self-monitoring blood glucose behaviour delivery was collected again.

Results

Five variables explained 47% of the variance in the delivery of self-monitoring of blood glucose at home. The delivery of hospital-to-home transitional self-monitoring blood glucose behaviour was more likely for individuals with higher pre-discharge self-efficacy, higher post-discharge self-efficacy, more attention to pre-hospitalization glycaemic status and post-discharge insulin usage and those without an insensitive foot.

Conclusion

Self-monitoring blood-glucose behaviour should be promoted among post-discharge patients with diabetes-related foot ulcer. The modifiable factors identified in this study can be integrated into the discharge plan.