Gender differences in lower extremity self-management: A population-based study

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.