Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Diabetic Patients about Their Foot Care in Rural Thrissur, Kerala

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Kerala is the diabetic capital of India with a prevalence of diabetes as high as 20%. Diabetic foot is one of the most significant and devastating complication of diabetes. Good knowledge and practice regarding foot care will reduce the risk of diabetic foot complication.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the knowledge, attitude and practices among the diabetic patients regarding their foot care and the factors associated with it.

METHODS

A community based cross sectional study was conducted in 2019 August. 101 known cases of diabetes mellitus from Thrikkur Panchayath, Thrissur were included in the study. Knowledge, attitude and practice regarding foot care were assessed using self-administered, pre- tested, structured questionnaire. The level of knowledge and practice, whether good, satisfactory or poor, was determined based on the median score of each category. Data were analysed using SPSS 23.

RESULTS

The mean age of respondents was 62 ± 14.15 years. 29% of diabetic patients had good knowledge, 44% had satisfactory knowledge and 27% had poor knowledge regarding their foot care. 34% had good practice, 31% had satisfactory practice and 35% had poor practice of their foot care. Education (P=0.01) had shown significant statistical association with knowledge of diabetic foot care. Gender (P=0.01), occupation (P=0.01) and education (P=0.01) had shown significant statistical association with practice of diabetic foot care.

CONCLUSION

More than half of the diabetic patients have knowledge about their foot care. But it is not that much reflecting in their foot care practices. So practice regarding diabetic foot care should be strengthened through Information Education and Communication and Behaviour Change Communication activities.