Factors Contributing To Diabetic Patients Foot Ulcers and Concepts of Prevention as Perceived By Medical And Surgical Nurses

Abstract

The Diabetic foot remains one of the most difficult challenges of the 21" century. This study aimed to: identify the most common factors contributing to diabetic patient's foot ulcers, assess patient's knowledge and performance related to prevention of peripheral vascular foot complications and evaluate nurses' related measures. Methodology: Convenient sample of 60 diabetic foot patients from El-demerdash and El-galaa hospitals were selected randomly free from other complications and their ages ranges from 55: 75 years. And the available 50 diploma nurses having 5-10 years of experience (25 were working at diabetic medical wards and 25 nurses were working at diabetic foot surgical wards). Tools: four tools were used; the first tool was a 3 parts patient's structured interview questionnaire. The first part was a demographic data. The second part concerned with the factors led to foot ulcers and the measures to control. The third part concerned with assessment of patients 'knowledge related to peripheral vascular care and foot examinations. The second tool was a performance check list consisted of 2 parts, the first part concerned with diabetes control observation check list, blood glucose level, urine analysis for sugar and acetone, and the second part concerned with observation of the sample's foot care. The third tool was the nurses' interview questionnaire, and assessment of nurses' knowledge. The fourth tool was a performance check list to measure the nurses' practice of foot inspection and vascular care. Consent form obtained. Then data was collected and statistically analyzed and tabulated. Results: revealed that, no significant difference between patient knowledge and their sex, but it was significant as regards to their qualifications. There was no significant difference between patients' practice and their sex or qualifications. There was significant relation between patient's knowledge and practice and recurrent incidence of foot ulcers. There was a lack knowledge and practice as regards proper compliance to medical regimen and foot peripheral vascular care among the diabetic patients. There was no significant difference between medical and surgical nurses' knowledge and practice of foot inspection and peripheral vascular care.