When patient education fails: do we consider the impact of low health literacy?

Abstract

Diabetes foot education concerning foot care knowledge and appropriate self-care behaviours is considered vital in the prevention of diabetes foot ulceration. Verbal education and advice should be issued and reinforced at each patient intervention to improve patient's knowledge and self-care behaviours. Written education materials have been developed in Scotland to standardise the information patients receive. Despite standardised written and verbal advice, many patients continue to develop preventable foot ulcers. This case study describes one such instance of self-induced diabetes foot ulceration secondary to the application of an over-the-counter corn remedy and considers whether poor health literacy contributed to this adverse outcome.