ARE WE TELLING THE DIABETIC PATIENTS ADEQUATELY ABOUT FOOT CARE?

Authors

  • Rashid Ali Women Medical College. Abbottabad.
  • Umer Farooq Department of Community Medicine Ayub Medical College
  • Mir Jalal-ud-din Women Medical College. Abbottabad.
  • Raheel Jahangir Jadoon Women Medical College, Abbottabad
  • Muhammad Adeel Alam Ayub medical College, Abbottabad
  • Asfandyar Qureshi Ayub Medical College, Abbottabad
  • Syed Usman Shah Women Medical College, Abbottabad

Abstract

Background: Diabetes mellitus affects more than 285 million people worldwide. The prevalence is expected to rise to 439 million by the year 2030. Diabetic foot ulcers precede 84% of non-traumatic amputations in diabetics. One lower limb is lost every 30 seconds around the world because of diabetic foot ulceration. Apart from being lengthy, the treatment of diabetic foot is also very expensive. There is very limited emphasis on foot care in diabetic patients. Even in developed countries patients feel that they do not have adequate knowledge about foot care. This study was conducted to find out how much information is imparted by doctors to diabetic patients about foot care. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in admitted patients of the Department of Medicine, DHQ Hospital, Abbottabad from May 2014 to June 2015. 139 diabetic patients more than 25 years of age were included by non-probability consecutive sampling. Results: The mean age was 57.17 (±11.1) years. 35.3% of patients were male and 64.7% were female. The mean duration of diabetes in patients was 8.3 (±6) years. Only 36.7% of patients said that their doctor told them about foot care. Less than 40% of patients knew that they should daily inspect their feet, wash them with gentle warm water, and dry them afterwards. Only 25.2% of the participants knew how to manage corns or calluses on feet.  66.5% of patients knew that they should not walk bare foot. Overall, 63% of our patients had less than 50% knowledge of the 11 points regarding foot care that the investigators asked them. Conclusion: Diabetic foot problems are the one of the costliest, most disabling and disheartening complication of diabetes mellitus. Doctors are not properly telling diabetic patients about foot care. There is a deficiency of knowledge among the diabetic patients regarding foot care. 

Author Biography

Rashid Ali, Women Medical College. Abbottabad.

Assistant professor. Department of Medicine. 

References

Shaw JE, Sicree RA, Zimmet PZ. Global estimates of the prevalence of diabetes for 2010 and 2030. Diabetes Res Clin Pract 2010;87(1):4–14.

King H, Aubert RE, Herman WH. Global burden of Diabetes, 1995-2025: Prevalence, Numerical estimates, and Projections. Diabetes Care 1998;21(9):1414–31.

Yudovsky D, Nouvong A, Pilon L. Hyperspectral imaging in diabetic foot wound care. J Diabetes Sci Technol 2010;4(5):1099–113.

Barshes NR, Barshes NM, Wrobel JS, Mahankali A, Robbins JM, Kougias P, et al. The system of care for the diabetic foot: objectives, outcomes, and opportunity. Diabet Foot Ankle 2013;4.

Madanchi N, Tabatabaei-Malazy O, Pajouhi M, Heshmat R, Larijani B, Mohajeri-Tehrani MR. Who are diabetic foot patients? A descriptive study on 873 patients. J Diabetes Metab Disord 2013;12:36.

Icks A, Scheer M, Morbach S, Genz J, Haastert B, Giani G, et al. Time-dependent impact of diabetes on mortality in patients after major lower extremity amputation: survival in a population-based 5-year cohort in Germany. Diabetes Care 2011;34(6):1350–4.

Iraj B, Khorvash F, Ebneshahidi A, Askari G. Prevention of diabetic foot ulcer. Int J Prev Med 2013;4(3):373–6.

Goodridge D, Trepman E, Embil JM. Health-related quality of life in diabetic patients with foot ulcers: literature review. J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurs 2005;32(6):368–77.

Olson JM, Hogan MT, Pogach LM, Rajan M, Raugi GJ, Reiber GE. Foot care education and self management behaviors in diverse veterans with diabetes. Patient Prefer Adherence 2009;3:45–50.

Rajan M, Pogach L, Tseng CL, Reiber G, Johnston M. Facility-level variations in patient-reported footcare knowledge sufficiency: implications for diabetes performance measurement. Prim Care Diabetes 2007;1(3):147–53.

Matwa P, Chabeli MM, Muller M, Levitt NS. Experiences and guidelines for footcare practices of patients with diabetes mellitus. Curationis 2003;26(1):11–21.

Simmons D, Scott D, Kenealy T, Scragg R. Foot care among diabetic patients in south Auckland. N Z Med J 1995;108(996):106–8.

De Berardis G, Pellegrini F, Franciosi M, Belfiglio M, Di Nardo B, Greenfield S, et al. Are Type 2 diabetic patients offered adequate foot care? The role of physician and patient characteristics. J Diabetes Complications 2005;19(6):319–27.

Viswanathan V, Shobhana R, Snehalatha C, Seena R, Ramachandran A. Need for education on footcare in diabetic patients in India. J Assoc Physicians India 1999;47(11):1083–5.

Saeed N, Zafar J, Atta A. Frequency of patients with diabetes taking proper foot care according to international guidelines and its impact on their foot health. J Pak Med Assoc 2010;60(9):732–5.

Hasnain S, Sheikh NH. Knowledge and practices regarding foot care in diabetic patients visiting diabetic clinic in Jinnah Hospital, Lahore. J Pak Med Assoc 2009;59(10):687–90.

Desalu OO, Salawu FK, Jimoh AK, Adekoya AO, Busari OA, Olokoba AB. Diabetic foot care: self reported knowledge and practice among patients attending three tertiary hospital in Nigeria. Ghana Med J 2011;45(2):60–5.

Published

2016-03-10

Most read articles by the same author(s)

<< < 1 2 3 4 5 > >>