ABSTRACT
Objective: To assess the knowledge and practices of foot care among a diabetic Jordanian cohort
Methods: A cross-sectional design was employed. The study implied a randomized study selecting every other patient who is suffering from diabetes and attending the endocrine and internal medicine clinics of a large tertiary hospital in Amman. Written consent was obtained from participants who were interviewed on individual bases using a questionnaire seeking information on knowledge and practice of foot self-care. Medical records were checked for latest reading of HbA1C. Data obtained were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences [SPSS] version 17. Levels of knowledge as well as levels of foot care practices were classified as good, satisfactory or poor according to scores computed for participants' responses to questionnaire items. Each correct response worthed one score [point]
Results: A total of 982 participants, were involved in the study, 505 [51.4%] were males and 477 [48.6%] were females. The mean age is 52.16 years [SD +/-13.4]. Of all participants, 156 [15.9%] were illiterate, 640 [65.2%] had an education of high school or less, and 186 [18.9%] had more than high school education. Out of 982 participants, 16.6% had poor knowledge; 41.9% had satisfactory and 41.5% had good knowledge scores of diabetic foot care. The mean knowledge score for the participants was 6.6 [SD +/-2.1]. Regarding practice scores, 24.8% of the study participants had poor practice, 56.9% had satisfactory score and only 18.2% had good practice of diabetic foot self-care. The mean practice score for the participants was 7.1 [SD +/-2.3]
Conclusion: Our study documented variations between knowledge and practice of diabetic foot self-care. Specifically, patients' satisfactory knowledge is associated with inadequate practices of foot self-care. In order to improve concordance between knowledge and practice of foot self-care; staff and patient's education must be encouraged and carried out at all primary health care centers and hospitals. Furthermore, measures must be taken to improve patient compliance to proper foot care practices