Assess the knowledge and practice of foot care among patients with diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Good knowledge and practice regarding diabetic foot care will reduce the risk of diabetic foot complications and that will decrease the chances of amputation of the limb. The present study aims to assess the knowledge and practice of foot care among patients with diabetes mellitus in koyambedu primary health centre to attending diabetic out- patient department. A descriptive study was conducted among 30 patients. Were selected by purposive non probability sampling method. Ten questions for knowledge of foot care and 15 questions for current foot care practice were included in the questionnaire and each positive answer was assigned one mark. Their knowledge and practice scores were classified as good, satisfactory and poor depending upon the score. For the knowledge and practice, if score was ≥76%, it was regarded as adequate knowledge, 51-75% was regarded as moderately adequate knowledge and less than 50% score was regarded as inadequate knowledge. The major finding of the study shows that most of them 17(56.66%) had inadequate knowledge, 11(36.67%) had moderately adequate knowledge and 2(6.67%) had adequate knowledge on knowledge and practice of foot care among patients with diabetes mellitus. On the basis of the results of the study, we can emphasize the importance and need of the education regarding the preventive measures of diabetic foot ulcer.