Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1 B.Sc. Nursing, College of Nursing, JIPMER, Puducherry, India,
2 Assistant Professor, College of Nursing, JIPMER, Puducherry, India
3 B.Sc. Nursing, College of Nursing, JIPMER, Puducherry, India, Professor Cum Principal (Ag.), College of Nursing, JIPMER, Puducherry, India
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Foot problems are most common among patients with diabetes, and they are
an important cause of morbidity in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). They can be prevented by
following a simple foot care practice. The study objective was to stratify the level of risk for diabetic
foot ulcer (DFU) among patients with diabetes by screening.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Adescriptive cross‑sectional study design was adopted in this study.
The sample size was 196, and a standardized INLOW’S 60‑s diabetic foot screening tool was used
to assess the risk of diabetic foot. Data collection was done by face‑to‑face interview, and diabetic
foot risk (DFR) was assessed by direct observation, inspection, and palpation methods.
RESULTS: Among the 196 patients, majority required yearly foot screen in both feet. The mean
and standard deviation of the level of DFR in the left foot (LF) and right foot (RF) was 4.31 ± 2.267
and 4.51 ± 2.391, respectively. There was a statistically significant association between the
practice of treatment and level of foot screening recommendation in the LF with Chi‑square value of
χ2 = 8.20 (df = 2) and RF with Chi‑square value of χ2 = 7.95 (df = 2) at P < 0.05 level.
CONCLUSION: Health‑care providers should be made aware of the regular practice of screening the
foot of diabetic patients along with health education awareness programs. It may be helpful to identify
the foot ulcer risk at an early stage. It will prevent further complications of DFU and recurrence of ulcer
and will reduce the economic burden to patients and their family members and the health‑care system.
Keywords
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