Evaluation of diabetic foot care knowledge, determinants of self‐care practices and the efficacy of health education

Abstract

AbstractTo evaluate the risk factors connected with diabetic foot care and investigate the impact of health education on promoting proper diabetic foot care practices. An explanatory and mixed‐method study was performed. We administered a structured pretest questionnaire to patients diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes who frequented our health examination center and community health clinics. The survey encompassed patient demographics, basic knowledge concerning diabetic foot care, and self‐care practices pertaining to diabetic foot care. Concurrent assessments and scoring were carried out. Following the survey, patients underwent health education sessions focusing on foot self‐care behaviours. Their progress was reevaluated after 2 weeks to gauge its effectiveness. We identified educational attainment, diabetes duration, regular follow‐up, and blood sugar control as critical factors influencing knowledge about foot care and self‐care practices related to it. Pearson correlation analysis demonstrated a positive relationship between scores for diabetic foot care knowledge and scores for self‐care behaviours (r = 0.32, p < 0.001). Health education led to a significant improvement in the self‐care behaviours of diabetic patients. A variety of factors affect the occurrence of diabetic foot complications and the self‐care behaviours associated with diabetic foot care. Health education proves to be an effective means of enhancing diabetic foot care behaviours.