Knowledge and Practice Regarding Foot Care among Persons with Diabetes Attending Diabetic Clinic of a Tertiary Care Centre in Uttarakhand, India

Abstract

Background: Amputation related to foot ulcers that develop in diabetes is the worst consequence of improper foot care among diabetic patients. Considering this, the present research was conducted to assess the knowledge and practice regarding foot care in people with diabetes. Aim: The present study aimed to assess the knowledge and practice regarding foot care among persons with diabetes attending a diabetic clinic at a tertiary care centre in Uttarakhand and to distribute a teaching aid to educate them regarding foot care in diabetes. Patients and Methods: One hundred and fifty persons with diabetes attending a diabetic clinic were assessed using a cross-sectional, descriptive design. A self-structured questionnaire on knowledge and practice was used to collect the data from the participants, who were selected using a convenient sampling technique. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for the analysis of the data. Results: About 21 (14.0%) patients had adequate knowledge, 108 (72.0%) had moderately adequate knowledge and 21 (14.0%) had inadequate knowledge. Most of the patients 97 (64.7%) had average practice, 52 (34.7%) had good practice and 1 (0.6%) had poor practice regarding foot care in diabetes. Pamphlets were made and distributed among patients to educate them regarding foot care for diabetes. Conclusion: People with diabetes, who visited the diabetic clinic at a tertiary centre in Uttarakhand had moderately adequate knowledge and average practice. This indicates patients need more education related to foot care in diabetes.

Keywords

• amputation
• diabetes
• foot care
• foot ulcers
• knowledge
• practice