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Aim: The aims of the present study are to describe the status of self-management behaviors and illness perception, and explore the relationship between illness perception and self-management behaviors among Chinese diabetic foot patients., Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the endocrinology department of a comprehensive tertiary hospital in Guangzhou, China. Data were collected on illness perception, self-management behaviors, and demographic and clinical characteristics over 9 months among 156 subjects. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation analysis, univariate analysis and multiple linear regression analysis., Results: Only 3.2% of participants maintained excellent self-management behaviors. Additionally, the participants perceived diabetic foot as chronic and could be well controlled through treatment. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that illness perception was associated with self-management behaviors., Conclusions: Patient illness perception is an important factor influencing self-management behaviors. It may be helpful to improve self-management behaviors by tailoring the content of the intervention to fit the patients' illness perceptions., (© 2023 Japan Academy of Nursing Science.)