EVALUATION OF FOOT CARE KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICES AMONG DIABETIC PATIENTS ATTENDING TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

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Abstract

Objective: To determine foot care knowledge and practices among diabetic patients.
Materials and methods: In this cross-sectional study, using non-probability convenience sampling, conducted in the last
quarter of 2013, 132 diabetic patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria were assessed by a modified pre-test two questionnaires
consisted of 11 questions each were adopted to assess the foot care knowledge and practices. Knowledge and
practices regarding foot-care were classified as good, satisfactory and poor depending upon the score. Each question
was assigned one mark. A score ≥70% (8-11) was regarded as good, 50-69% (6-7) was regarded as satisfactory and
a score ≤50% (≤6) was regarded as poor both for knowledge and practice of foot-care.
Results: There were 103 (78.0 %) male and 29 (22.0 %) female patients with mean age of 51.97 years ± 9.2195 SD.
Mean score of knowledge about foot care was 8.37 ± 3.106 SD and median score was 10.0 while the mean score of
practices about foot care were 8.14 ± 2.518 SD with median score of 8.0. There was a positive correlation between the
knowledge scores and the practice score (p < 0.001). Education has statistically significant impact on the knowledge
(p=0.001) and practices (p=0.001) regarding foot care. Socioeconomic status had significant impact on knowledge
and practices regarding foot care with p value of < 0.05.
Conclusion: This observational study revealed that many diabetics had negative behaviors towards foot-care. This
simple quality initiative concludes the notion that patients with diabetes should receive ongoing foot-specific education
to prevent foot problems and complications.
KEY WORDS: Diabetes Mellitus, Foot Care, Knowledge, Practice

Authors: 
Muhammad Usman
Mohammad Bilal Khattak
Zahid Irfan Marwat
Sijjad Ali
Journal Issue: 

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