Diabetic foot self-care: awareness and practice among type 2 diabetic patients in primary healthcare centers, Dubai Health Authority

Abstract

Background: Diabetic foot disease is the most common complication of diabetes mellitus. With appropriate management, approximately 49-85% of diabetic foot complications can be prevented. This study was carried out due to lack of population-based studies on foot self-care in the U.A.E. The aim of this study is to assess the awareness and practice of foot self-care in patients with type 2 diabetes and study the factors affecting foot self-care.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted amongst patients of type-2 diabetes attending the diabetic clinics in primary healthcare centers under Dubai Health Authority. 488 participants were interviewed on a pre-tested structured questionnaire. The cumulative score of awareness and practice was classified into poor (<50 percentile), average (50-75 percentile) and good (>75 percentile).Results: 47% participants had an overall poor awareness and 46% had an overall poor practice of foot self-care. Compliance of medications to avoid complications had the highest awareness (83%) and practice (91%). Avoiding moisturizing between toes had the least awareness (40%) and practice (38%). Awareness was better in 59% of UAE nationals and 74% of postgraduates. Practice was better in 60% of males and 73% of participants with uncontrolled HbA1c. Participants who received prior information had better awareness (55%). Participants receiving information from Dubai Diabetes Centre (DDC) had better awareness (66%) and practice of foot self-care (66%).Conclusions: Almost half of the diabetic patients attending primary healthcare centers in Dubai have limited awareness and practice regarding diabetic foot self-care.

Foot care knowledge, attitude and practices of diabetic patients: A survey in Diabetes health care facility

“…Diabetic foot care knowledge level was significantly associated with participants who received pervious knowledge and education regarding diabetic foot care ( P -value < 0.05). This finding is in accordance with a study done in Dubai[ 7 ] and new study done in Asser, Saudi Arabia. [ 38 ] Raising awareness of diabetic patients about foot care and diabetic foot complications usually gives better outcome.…”

“…The study revealed that 56.9% of the participants received knowledge in the past about diabetic foot care. This finding was comparable with the previous studies done in Dubai (61.7%)[ 7 ] and in Tanzania (48%). [ 35 ] In contrast, in some of the previous studies, the diabetic patients had low or never received information about the diabetic foot care, such as a study done in Pakistan (57%)[ 26 ] of the participants.…”

“…Among diabetes complications, diabetic foot disease (DFD) is the most common. [ 7 ] DFD is the foot condition of diabetic patients with ulcers accompanied by peripheral vascular disease and/or lower limb diabetic neuropathy. [ 8 ] Multiple factors can precipitate DFD like abnormal joint mobility or foot pressure, trauma, foot deformity, peripheral vascular disease or peripheral neuropathy being the most common.…”

Diabetic Foot Assessment of People With Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy And Associated Factors To Plantar Pressure Changes.

“…Footwear considered appropriate must have a thick sole, su cient width and depth to accommodate a sock and the foot comfortably, the inside of the footwear must be soft and seamless, adjustable with laces or velcro, offering total protection to the toes (round or square toe), sole up to three centimeters, and made with soft raw material [7,19,34]. It should be noted that the use of inappropriate shoes has been described in the literature as a relevant factor for the development of the risk of ulceration and peak plantar pressure [18,[35][36][37][38].…”

Factors associated with severity and anatomical distribution of Diabetic Foot Ulcer in Uganda: A multicenter cross-sectional study

“…Self-management of DM has signi cant impact on the outcome of controlling blood sugar levels and their complications like diabetic foot ulcer [17]. Several researches have shown that DFU management outcome is related to patient awareness and self-foot care behavior [18][19][20]. The DFU has been largely studied in developed countries showing that Wagner grades 3 and 4 are the most common and the metatarsal region is the most affected [21][22].…”