Diabetic Foot Self-Care Practices Among Adult Diabetic Patients: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND

Adequate foot care and regular foot examinations along with optimal glycemic control are effective strategies to prevent foot ulceration.

AIM

The aim of this study was to describe the patterns of foot self-care practice among diabetic patients attending an ambulatory clinic.

METHODS

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at the ambulatory clinic of Jimma Medical Center. A consecutive sampling technique was used. The data were analyzed by SPSS version 20 and descriptive statistics were used to describe the findings.

RESULTS

A total of 370 diabetic patients (55.9% male and 68.4% type 2) were interviewed. The mean (±SD) age of the patients was 46.47±13.63 years. Over one-third (35.7%) of the patients had a previous history of foot ulcer. The majority of the patients self-inspect (92.5%) and wash (82.7%) their foot at least daily, respectively. In this study, 12.2% of the patients never inspected the inside of their footwear before putting them on and 42.4% of the patients never dry between their toes after washing. Most (63.5%) of patients never used moisturizing creams to lubricate the dry skin. In this study, 23.0% and 27.6% of the patients walk in sandals/slippers and in shoes without socks most of the time, respectively. Only 27.3% of the patients changed their socks daily. Majority (78.4% and 86.5%) of the patients never walk barefoot around and outside their house, respectively, and 75.1% of the patients never put their feet near the fire.

CONCLUSION

Diabetic patients were not adequately self-inspect and wash their foot at least daily, dry after wash and moisturize the dry skin. They walk barefoot, in sandals/slippers, and in shoes without socks. Therefore, clinicians should counsel every diabetic patient about the importance of foot self-inspection, foot hygiene, and the risk of walking barefoot, wearing sandals/slippers, and shoes without socks at every follow-up visit.