Clinical Research Directory

The Effect of Diabetic Foot Training Given to Patients With Type-2 Diabetes Using Virtual Reality Glasses on Foot Care Behaviors

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease characterized by high blood sugar resulting from insulin deficiency and/or ineffectiveness. Diabetes is increasingly recognized as a significant public health problem due to its increasing prevalence and potential for a wide range of complications. Diabetic foot, one of the most common complications of diabetes, has become a widespread problem in parallel with the rapidly increasing prevalence of diabetes both globally and domestically. Since healthcare expenditures for diabetic foot care account for one-third of total spending on diabetes treatment, the importance of planning patient education, implementing evidence-based preventive approaches, and regularly monitoring patients to prevent the development of diabetes and diabetic foot is evident. Furthermore, the adoption of evidence-based preventive approaches and regular patient follow-up are essential in this context. Diabetes education nurses, in particular, play a critical role in this regard. Today, with advancements in health technologies and diabetes treatments, significant breakthroughs and improvements in diabetes treatment and care are regularly occurring. Therefore, nurses should plan and implement training every six months or even annually to share current information with patients and facilitate their adaptation to new treatment approaches. The literature particularly emphasizes the importance of providing comprehensive education to individuals with diabetes on disease management, including diet, medication, exercise, and foot care. The need to address the specific needs of these patients for optimal care is also emphasized. Therefore, it is crucial to design and implement effective educational strategies that incorporate current technological applications to transform the knowledge and habits of individuals with diabetes into adaptive behaviors that can reduce the likelihood of developing diabetic foot ulcers. One such application, virtual reality headsets, provide an immersive, three-dimensional virtual environment with high-quality visuals and audio, enabling individuals to learn through experiential learning by simulating realistic scenarios. This application can also increase patients' skill proficiency and motivation. However, our review of the relevant literature revealed no studies using virtual reality headsets as a method for providing diabetic foot education. In light of the above, this study, which examines the impact of diabetic foot education provided to patients via virtual reality headsets on foot care behaviors, is expected to be unique compared to similar studies. The research results are expected to contribute significantly to the prevention of diabetic foot ulcers and the provision of optimum diabetic foot care.