Diabetic Foot - related Knowledge, Health Beliefs and Practices among Diabetic Elderly

Abstract

Background: Diabetes mellitus has become one of the majors, and rising diseases affecting population all around the world. The most common complications that rise from the diabetes is diabetic foot. The increasing rate in diabetic foot among elderly has become a challenge that continues to rise and worsen. Aim: the study aimed to assess diabetic foot- related knowledge, health beliefs and practices among diabetic elderly. Study design: descriptive design was utilized in this study. Setting: this study was conducted at the diabetes and endocrine outpatient clinic at Beni-suef university hospital. Subject: non-probability purposive sample of 70 diabetic elderly, admitted to the previously mentioned setting were recruited for conducting this study. Data collection tools: First tool: Structured interviewing questionnaire, it was composed of four parts, part one: Socio-demographic data, part two: Medical history of the elderly, part three: Elderly' knowledge regarding diabetes, and diabetic foot, part four: Health belief model constructs. Second tool: Foot self-care observational checklist. Results: Regarding elderly' knowledge, the current study shows that, nearly three quarters (74.3%) of the elderly had unsatisfactory knowledge and only 25.7% had satisfactory knowledge. As regards health beliefs the current study depicts that, more than two- thirds (67.1%) of the elderly had negative health beliefs, while 32.9% had positive health beliefs. The present study also shows that, three fifths (60%) of the elderly had poor level of foot self-care practices. The current study represents that, there was a positive highly statistically significant correlation (P=0.00) between total elderly knowledge, total health beliefs, and total foot self-care practices. Conclusion: Diabetic elderly in the current study lacked appropriate knowledge and health beliefs regarding diabetes disease in general and diabetic foot in specific and foot self-care practices were mostly unsatisfactory. Recommendations: Conducting and disseminating educational programs at various settings to reach all targeted diabetic elderly to increase their positive behaviors towards diabetic care in general and foot care in specific, provide specialist educator nurse in the diabetes clinic to assess the elderly' health needs and provide them with necessary information. Further researches in the area of diabetic foot as well as diabetes prevention and care should be encouraged.