Cross-sectional survey assesses physiotherapists' knowledge and practices in diabetic foot care across India, indicating areas for improvement.
Background Diabetic foot ulcers are a major complication of diabetes and contribute significantly to morbidity and healthcare burden in India. Physiotherapists play a vital role in prevention and management; however, their knowledge, attitude, and clinical practices in the Indian context remain unexplored. Objective The study is aimed at assessing the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of physiotherapists practicing across India regarding diabetic foot care through a national online cross‐sectional survey. Method A cross‐sectional national online survey was conducted from January 2024 to March 2025 among physiotherapists practicing across India. A total of 249 participants were included using a convenience sampling technique. Data were collected using a self‐developed, content‐validated questionnaire consisting of 20 questions across knowledge, attitude, and clinical practice domains. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed using Jamovi (2.6.23). Results A total of 249 respondents from 28 Indian states were included. While 94.8% acknowledged their role in diabetic care, only 41% had received formal training in diabetic foot management. Although most participants identified clinical signs of complications, inconsistencies were observed in interpreting ABI and HbA1c values. Although 98.8% reported providing patient education practices, only 47.4% performed routine foot assessments. Greater clinical experience was associated with better application of knowledge in practice. Conclusion Indian physiotherapists demonstrate positive attitudes toward diabetic foot care; however, gaps remain in formal training and consistent clinical practice persist. Strengthening structured education and developing standardized clinical guidelines are essential to improve practice.
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Kunder et al. (2026) studied this question.
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