Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic debilitating condition characterized by elevated blood sugar levels and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality and increased health care costs. Diabetic foot ulcers and lower limb amputations are a common, complex, costly, and debilitating complication of diabetes. It is estimated that 15% of patients with diabetes have lower extremity ulcers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge, practice and barriers to foot care self-care in diabetic patients receiving treatment at the Felege Hiwot Referral Hospital. A cross-sectional, baseline-based study was performed in 313 diabetic patients using convenience sampling technique. In addition, descriptive statistics and binary and multivariate logistic regression were used to evaluate predictors of foot care knowledge and practice for patients with diabetes. Outcome. The majority of respondents are male. The mean age was 39.1 ± 16. The mean knowledge score was 7.5 ± 2.02, of which 56.2% and 43.8% had good and poor knowledge of foot care. The average practice score is 25.2 ± 6,466, of which 53.0% have good practice, the rest 47.0% have poor foot care practice. Of the 162 respondents who encountered a barrier, 56.8% said "poor communication between the patient and the healthcare provider", 50.6% said "I don't know what to do" and 44.4% answered "Inconvenience at work" is a barrier to foot care. Knowledge and practice on foot care for diabetic patients is low. Poor communication between the patient and nurse/physician, lack of adequate knowledge and inconvenience at work are often barriers to foot care. Policymakers should launch a statewide interventional podiatry education program in the region. The research hospital should consider establishing a specialist diabetes clinic, where podiatry education can easily be combined with follow-up care.