Comparative study of knowledge and practice regarding diabetic foot ulcer management amongst the staff nurses working in hospital setting and peripheral health care centers of Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, India

Abstract

Diabetic mellitus is a metabolic disease caused by deficiencies of insulin. Diabetic foot ulcer is a long term complication of diabetes mellitus. The annual incidence of DFU is 3% to 10%. Staff nurses are important members of health care team and have an essential role in prevention and management of DFU. Our study aimed to assess of knowledge and practice regarding diabetic foot ulcer management amongst the staff nurses working in hospital setting and peripheral health care centers. A cross sectional comparative study was done in St. Ann’s hospital Vijayawada and peripheral health centers (including primary health centers, sub centers) in Vijayawada over a period of one month. A structured questionnaire and practice check list was prepared to assess nurses’ knowledge and practice regarding DFU management. The statistical findings revealed that nurses working in hospitals have more knowledge and practice (Mean knowledge score: 23.83, mean practice score: 8.43Mean) compared with the nurses working in peripheral health centres (knowledge mean: 19.73, practice mean: 7.83.). It was also observed that there was a significant correlation between knowledge and practice at 0.05 level of significance among both groups. So the study concludes by focusing on importance of in service educational programmes for nurses to improve knowledge and practice.