Knowledge and Practice of Foot Care in Diabetic Inpatients: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study

Objective: To determine whether diabetic patients have adequate information regarding foot care. Materials and Methods: We evaluated history of diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) and data on self-foot care practices collected through face-to-face interviews from 64 diabetic inpatients in a university hospital. Foot care practices were scored based on 20 questions. Questions under the categories of “beware of risky behavior,” “foot and nail care,” and “elaborate on footwear” were grouped, and the practice subscores and total scores were calculated. A total score of >70% was assessed as “good practice”, 50%–70% as “satisfactory practice,” and <50% as “poor practice.” Results: Fourteen (21.9%) patients had previous or ongoing DFU and five (7.8%) had undergone amputation. Only 44% of the patients stated that they had been informed about the prevention of diabetic foot after the diagnosis was established. This group differed from the uninformed group significantly in terms of regular medical control (p=0.006). The average foot care practice score was 72 for the informed group and 49 for the uninformed group; the percentage of “good practice” score was 46% in the informed group and 11% in the uninformed group. The percentages of having good practice score were found to be significantly high in women, those without DFU, and those informed about foot care (p<0.01). Conclusion: Foot care practices of the patients were found to be mainly inadequate. Health care providers and diabetic patients should be encouraged for good foot care practices.