The impact of theory-based education on promoting urinary tract infection prevention behaviours among elderly diabetic women – experimental study

Introduction: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a prevalent infection among the elderly population, often culminating in more severe and life-threatening complications. The prevalence of diabetes among elderly individuals is markedly on the rise, with UTI emerging as the most prevalent infectious ailment in this diabetic cohort. This study aims to ascertain the influence of theory-based education on promoting UTI prevention behaviours among elderly diabetic women. Material and methods: In this experimental study, 100 elderly women with diabetes who sought care at comprehensive health service centres in Miandoab City between January and May 2022 were assessed. Multistage random sampling was employed, and an educational intervention was designed according to the health belief model (HBM) constructs. Data collected before and one month after the educational intervention were analysed with a validated and reliable researcher-designed questionnaire. Conclusions: The research findings validate the effectiveness of an intervention grounded in HBM for fostering UTI prevention behaviours among elderly diabetic women. Consequently, such an approach is recommended for enhancing the overall health of elderly diabetic women.