265793
Gender differences in lower extremity self-management: A population-based study
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
: 9:50 AM - 10:00 AM
Stephen Morewitz, PhD
,
Department of Nursing and Health Sciences, California State University, East Bay, San Francisco, CA
Sharada Tata, MS
,
Research, Stephen J. Morewitz, Ph.D., & Associates, San Francisco, CA
Joel Clark, DPM
,
Surgery, California Schol of Podiatric Medicine, San Francisco, CA
Conway Tan
,
Department of Nursing & Health Sciences, California State University, East Bay, San Francisco, CA
More research is needed to determine which factors facilitate or inhibit lower extremity self-management practices. However, little is known about the possible association between gender and lower extremity self-management. Women tend to be more interested in the appearance of their lower extremities than men. Women also tend to be more interested in footwear than men. Women also use health services more than men. These two factors help increase women's likelihood of engaging in lower extremity self-management. The present investigation evaluates the extent to gender is associated with one component of lower extremity self-management: whether individuals check their feet. Methods: The findings from the population-based 2007-2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (N=approximately 5,000 adults) were used. Descriptive, correlational, and regression procedures evaluated possible gender differences in whether individuals check their feet, after adjusting for age, race, income, and other predictors. Results and Conclusion: The null hypothesis was rejected. Gender was significantly associated with whether persons check their feet (Chi-Square=7.77, df=2, p<.021). Females (86.2%) were more to report that they check their feet than males (78.4%), after controlling for possible intervening variables. These findings highlight the need to educate, screen and treat men for lower extremity problems since they may be less likely than women to check their feet.
Learning Areas:
Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Chronic disease management and prevention
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Provision of health care to the public
Social and behavioral sciences
Learning Objectives: Explain gender differences in lower extremity self-management.
Discuss why gender differences in lower extremity self-management occur.
Analyze possible assessment and treatment outcomes based on these gender differences in lower extremity self-management.
Keywords: Gender, Self-Management
Presenting author's disclosure statement:Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have over 20 years experience as public health professional. I am the author or co-author of 8 books and over 100 other publications related to public health, including lower extremity research and diabetes mellitus.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines,
and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed
in my presentation.
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