Sociodemographic disparities in diabetic foot self-care: Critical role of healthcare providers

ABSTRACT Background: Foot self-care is an effective measure to prevent diabetic foot, a dreaded complication of diabetes mellitus (DM). This study aimed to assess knowledge and practice of foot self-care among diabetic patients, evaluate the influence of sociodemographic factors, and examine the foot self-care advice the patients reported receiving from healthcare providers. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital involving 146 patients with DM. The researcher recorded sociodemographic parameters, knowledge, practice, and advice of foot self-care using a validated structured questionnaire. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS 20.0. Results: Mean knowledge, practice, and advice scores were 12.15 (±5.57), 5.65 (±2.05) and 2.97 (±2.41) respectively. 62.33% of patients had poor knowledge, 90.41% had poor practice scores, and 65.07% had not received adequate advice and instructions from healthcare providers regarding foot self-care. Knowledge, practice, and advice scores had a significant positive correlation. Education and occupation were substantial predictors of knowledge and advice scores, while age and education significantly predicted practice scores. Conclusion: Most patients had poor knowledge and practice of foot self-care. The majority reported receiving inadequate advice about foot self-care from healthcare providers. Certain patients (rural, lower education levels, farmer/laborer, single/widowed) had disproportionately low scores for knowledge and practice of foot self-care and advice received from health care providers. The results necessitate community health and awareness programs and wide dissemination of information via mass/media, including targeted/focused efforts to promote diabetes awareness in certain groups of patients. Healthcare providers can significantly impact patients by advising and educating them about foot self-care during every visit.