The Effect of Message Framing in Diabetic Foot Self-Management

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.