[Exploring the Factors Related to Home Care Nurse Knowledge of, Attitudes Toward, and Care Competence for Foot Care in the Elderly].

Abstract

Background: Cases of chronic disease and disability and the demand for long-term care have risen in step with the steady global increase in aging populations. Foot health is critical to quality of life and mobility in older adults, and proper foot care can reduce the risks of falls and disabilities while preventing foot-issue-related health deterioration. Thus, foot care has become an integral part of long-term care services in Taiwan.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to explore the current status of older-adult foot care in Taiwan and factors influencing the competency of home care nurses in implementing this care.

Methods: This cross-sectional study targeted nurses working at nationally licensed home care institutions. The self-developed structured questionnaire used in this study covered five sections: demographics, foot care knowledge, attitudes, practices, and competencies. After testing for validity and reliability, 250 copies of the questionnaire were distributed, with 183 valid responses collected. Data were analyzed using SPSS 21.0 software.

Results: The average age of participants was 43.1 years. Regarding foot care, 51.4% of the participants had not attended any continuing education on foot care, while those who had reported an average training duration of 4.7 hours. Overall foot care competency scores were highest in the areas of professional ethics, collaboration, and quality management with evidence-based application. Positive correlations were observed between foot care attitudes, practical experience, and training hours. Stepwise regression analysis revealed attitudes, practices, and continuing education as the main predictors of foot care competency, with an explanatory power of 63%.

Conclusions: Attitudes, practical experience, and continuing education are key factors influencing foot care competency in home care nurses. Nursing education curricula should incorporate foot care to systematically enhance student foot health assessment skills, care measures, and professional expertise. Moreover, ongoing in-service education and training should be promoted to strengthen the practical capabilities of home care nurses, addressing the growing demand for long-term care in aging societies.