Foot Care Education Among Patients With Diabetes Mellitus in China: A Cross-sectional Study.

PURPOSE

To investigate the foot care knowledge and behavior of patients with diabetes to determine effect and current challenges of foot care education, as a basis to improve education and reduce diabetic foot complications.

DESIGN

Quantitative, cross-sectional study.

METHODS

A convenience sampling method was used to recruit 200 patients with diabetes from the endocrinology clinic of a tertiary general hospital in Beijing between September 2014 and January 2015. Demographic and disease-related data, foot care education, foot risk stratification status, and knowledge and behavior (K&B) scores were collected using investigator-designed questionnaires.

RESULTS

Of the 200 patients, 128 (64.0%) patients received routine diabetes education, and 73 (36.5%) received foot care education. The mean ± standard deviation (SD) for K&B scores were 63.76 ± 14.85, and 59.78 ± 11.17, respectively. The K&B scores of patients who received foot care education (69.54 ± 14.32 and 65.27 ± 11.90) were significantly higher than those who received diabetic education only (60.75 ± 15.27 and 57.54 ± 10.25) and those with no diabetic education (60.21 ± 13.37 and 55.94 ± 8.74) (P < .01). The K&B scores did not differ for patients based on diabetic foot risk strata (P > .05).

CONCLUSION

The foot care K&B scores of patients with diabetes were low to moderate levels, particularly on items that pertained to self-foot examination, prompt treatment of foot problems, and regular foot inspection by professionals. Individuals with high risk of developing foot complications did not score higher on the K&B questionnaire. These data suggest there is need for improvement in instruction and patient uptake and application of knowledge. We recommend further study on the effectiveness of the delivery of foot care education based on foot risk stratification, and the implications of foot ulcer prevention in community settings.