ABSTRACT
Limb loss is one of the most devastating complications of Diabetes mellitus. Prevention is possible only with a well educated patient. We set out to assess patient education by physicians and foot care awareness in patients attending our DHQ Hospital. Descriptive study. This study was carried out at the DHQ Hospital, Mirpur, Azad Kashmir from 01.12.2012 to 30.03.2013. This was a descriptive study involving 311 patients attending DHQ Hospital, Mirpur, Azad Kashmir. The patients were chosen by convenience sampling. The patients could be either type 1 or type 2 diabetics. A total of 18 multiple-choice questions were used. Patients less than 40 years were excluded from the study. 314 patients were enrolled in the study. 37.62% of patients were aged 40 to 50 years. Females comprised 52.41% of the patients. 49.52% of patients were illiterate. About a third of patients [31.51%] visited their doctor weekly or fortnightly. A size-able number of patients [39.55%] had never or rarely been guided about life style changes by their doctors. 68.17% of patients had never or rarely been guided about diabetic complications. Only 23.15% patients were aware about foot care. Pearson Chi-Square values were highly significant P<0.0001 for education and foot care awareness. Patient education by physicians is almost non-existent in Pakistan and needs to be improved. Improving literacy will improve patient foot care awareness