Open AccessKnowledge of Risk Factors for Foot Ulceration among Patients with Diabetes Mellitus Attending a Tertiary Health Facility in Nigeria
Author(s) -
Martins Ehizode Emuze,
Taoreed Adegoke Azeez,
Arinola Esan,
Jokotade Adeleye,
Williams Balogun,
T. O. Akande
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
iranian journal of diabetes and obesity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2345-2250
pISSN - 2008-6792
DOI - 10.18502/ijdo.v13i3.7184
Subject(s) - medicine , diabetes mellitus , foot (prosody) , diabetic foot ulcer , diabetic foot , tertiary care , glycemic , complication , risk factor , outpatient clinic , physical therapy , cross sectional study , surgery , philosophy , linguistics , pathology , endocrinology
Objective: Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is a relatively common complication of diabetes mellitus and constitutes a major cause of mortality. This study aimed to assess the knowledge of risk factors for foot ulceration among patients with diabetes in a tertiary health facility in South Western Nigeria.
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was initiated with participation of 100 diabetic patients. Diabetic patients were attending the medical outpatient clinic of the University College Hospital, Ibadan. A structured and validated questionnaire was administered and data was analyzed using SPSS 22. Association between sociodemographic characteristics and knowledge of risk factors for foot ulceration was evaluated by chi-square test.
Results: Most of respondents were female (66%). The mean age of the patients was 58.77 (±11.8) years and 51% of patients did not know that it is possible to develop foot ulcer without feeling pain and 30% did not know that features suggestive of neuropathy could be associated with development of foot ulcer. 75% did not know that surgical vascular repair could play any role in the healing of a diabetic foot ulcer. 11% of patients were walking barefooted at home and as much as 63% of respondents did not know that poor longterm glycemic control could be a risk factor for the development of diabetic foot ulcers.
Conclusion: The knowledge of the patients attending the diabetes clinic of a tertiary hospital in south-western Nigeria on foot care is generally poor. Education in this direction is very paramount to correct this defect.