Knowledge, Practice and Barriers of Foot Self-Care among Diabetic Patients

Background and objectives: Diabetic foot problems are one of the most common chronic complications of diabetes that has a tremendous economic and social impact on individuals, families and on health system as a whole in developing and developed countries. Diabetic foot problems can be prevented through well-coordinated foot care services. Patient education is an important and essential element of any health program for diabetic foot prevention and control patients at Sohag University Hospital. Methods: The study included 200 diabetic patients aged 30-70 years old, attending the endocrine outpatient clinic at Sohag University Hospital. Results: a total of 200 people participated in present study among which data of 200 participants (Male: n = 108, 54%; females: n = 92, 46%) with mean age ±SD 54. ±15 years. ranged from 30 to 70. They were mainly from rural 127 (63.5. %) and to less extent from urban 73 (36.5%), Marital status result showed there were 134(67%) married and 36 (18%) single ones. Education level result showed that majority of respondents were of middle and primary education while 40(20.0%) were high educated and 45(22.5%) were primary and 63(31.5%) were illiterate. The occupation result showed that majority 88(44 %) were having no job followed by 49(24.5%) were having private job, only16 (8%) patients were having Government job, and 47(23.5%) were self-employers. The monthly income result showed that majority of respondents had monthly income less than 5,000 pound that’s not sufficient. Also we found that the most prominent barrier is the cost that represents 51.5% of the participants’ barrier, also two thirds of participants had poor practice levels and that more than half of participants had poor knowledge levels. Upon analyzing sociodemographic data in relation to diabetic foot care knowledge and practice our results show that males had statistically significant lower mean knowledge score than females. Also the educational level had statistically significant importance in both knowledge and practice score Multivariate regression analysis showed significant associations between scores of practice score with demographic characteristics of participants as with ( Level of education) (p= 005-.001). and with (Marital status) (p = .013-.004). and multivariate regression analysis showed significant associations between scores of knowledge score with demographic characteristics of participants as with gender (female) (p = <0.0001-<0.0001), and income (p= <0.0001-<0.0001). residence (p = <0.0001-o33). Spearman correlation shows that there was no correlation between the scores of knowledge and practice and age. Conclusion: This study has brought attention to the knowledge and practice gaps in DM patients' foot care