Nursing clinical approach in the prevention of diabetic foot

Abstract

Objective: To identify the procedures adopted during nursing consultation to the person with diabetes mellitus, in the prevention of diabetic foot. Methods: Descriptive, observational and quantitative study, carried out in an institution of secondary care on diabetes and hypertension of the Ceará State, between August and September 2011. Data was collected through a form during the nursing consultation, being organized in pictures with descriptive analysis. Results: The clinical management of diabetic foot is performed by nurses with little emphasis, omitting relevant questions about the patient’s habits, such as walking barefoot, nails cutting, attention to calluses and feet moisturizing. Furthermore, some guidance is neglected, as to inform about the best time to buy the shoe, type of socks to be used and the fact they cannot walk barefoot. Conclusion: The procedures adopted during consultation by the nurses in this study were not the ideal ones, as the anamnesis and clinical examination of feet occurred incompletely, missing important steps for the prevention of diabetic foot or the potential complications associated to it. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.5020/18061230.2013.p498

Keywords

• Pé Diabético
• Educação em Enfermagem
• Diabetes Mellitus