Awareness and Practices of Foot Care among Diabetic Patients: A Study at Lahore General Hospital, Lahore

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus, a persistent metabolic condition commonly known as diabetes, comprises a cluster of metabolic disorders arising from the body's incapacity to generate an adequate amount of insulin or efficiently utilize the insulin it produces. Among the various complications associated with diabetes, diabetic foot complications constitute a serious threat to the well-being of affected individuals. Aim of study is to assess the awareness and practices of foot care among diabetic patients: a study at Lahore General Hospital, Lahore. A descriptive cross-sectional study design was employed for this research, conducted at the diabetic clinic of Lahore General Hospital. A sample size of 104 was determined with a 95% confidence interval and a 5% margin of error. Convenient sampling technique was utilized for participant selection. . A structured knowledge assessment tool and practice checklist was used to collect data from participants. Following data collection, the analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 24. Among the 104 participants, 32.7% were male, and 67.3% were female, and majority of participants, constituting 59.6%, fell within the age range of 40-60 years. About 90(86.5%) participants had poor knowledge and awareness regarding foot care and 14(13.5%) had good knowledge regarding foot care. Majority of participants 57.6% had incompetent practices. It is concluded that majority of diabetic patients who participated in research had poor knowledge and incompetent practices regarding foot care.