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. 2022 May 30:11:45.
doi: 10.4103/abr.abr_279_20. eCollection 2022.

Practice and Associated Factors Regarding Foot Care among Diabetes Mellitus Patients Attending a Rural Primary Health Center in South India

Srihari Dhandapani  1 , Sanjay Kambar  2 , Murigendra Basayya Hiremath  3
Affiliations

Practice and Associated Factors Regarding Foot Care among Diabetes Mellitus Patients Attending a Rural Primary Health Center in South India

Srihari Dhandapani et al. Adv Biomed Res. .

Abstract

Background: Diabetes mellitus patients are more likely to undergo nontraumatic foot or leg amputations because they have decreased circulation to the feet or reduced sensation. This condition may cause ulcerations, infections, and delayed wound healing, leading to amputations. Adequate knowledge and practices regarding foot care will be vital in the prevention of diabetic foot complications. Hence, this study aimed to determine the level of knowledge and practices of foot care among diabetes mellitus patients attending a rural primary health center in Belagavi-South India.

Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the rural field practice area of J.N. Medical College, Belagavi, for 7 months (November 2019 to May 2020). A pretested questionnaire was administered to 461 diabetes patients attending the health center. A written informed consent was obtained from each participant. They were interviewed with a questionnaire consisting of 15 "yes" or "no" questions, each on foot care knowledge and practice.

Results: The mean age of the study participants was 50.28 ± 9.48 years. The mean duration of diabetes was 10.69 ± 7.09 years. Majority, i.e., 296 (64.2%) participants showed satisfactory knowledge and 293 (63.6%) showed satisfactory practice. Only 97 (21%) had poor knowledge, 90 (19.5%) had poor practice, 68 (14.8%) patients had good knowledge, and 78 (16.9%) had good practice about diabetic foot care.

Conclusions: The low level of knowledge and practice in patients with diabetes regarding foot care necessitates an educational program to increase awareness related to foot complications of diabetes, thereby motivating diabetic patients to incorporate foot care practices in their day-to-day routine.

Keywords: Complications; India; diabetes mellitus; diabetic foot; epidemiology; foot care; knowledge; practice; prevention and control; primary health center.

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Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Bar diagram showing comparison of mean age across level of knowledge and practice regarding foot care (n = 461)
Figure 2
Figure 2
Bar diagram showing comparison of gender across level of knowledge and practice regarding foot care (n = 461)
Figure 3
Figure 3
Correlation between knowledge and practice about foot care (n = 461)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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