Jamil Ahmed Somroo|Anjum Hashmi|Zafar Iqbal|Aslam Aziz Ghori
Diabetic Foot Care - A Public Health Problem
World Health Organization - Pakistan|Jinnah Medical & Dental College|Liaquat University of Medical & Health Sciences
background diabetes global epidemic devastating human social economic consequences disease claims many lives per year hivaids places severe burden healthcare systems economies everywhere heaviest burden falling low middleincome countries despite awareness global scale diabetes threat remains pitifully low inappropriate diabetic foot care affects feet health leading callosities cracks fissures fungal infections ingrown toe nails patients end ulcers amputations objectives assess diabetic patients taking proper foot care according international guidelines impact foot health methods cross sectional study conducted outdoor patients department medicine liaquat university medical sciences hospital hyderabad 17th january 2008 16th january 2009 100 diabetic patients selected non probability convenience sampling according performa questions regarding diabetic foot care derived american diabetic association guidelines diabetic foot care results diabetic patients taking proper foot care 6 4545 males 5555 females mean age 51571072 years 38 patients knew foot care 17 used inspect feet daily 20 washed feet daily 73 washed feet 23 patients dried feet every foot wash 27 applied emollients 25 checked shoes wearing 24 used wear correct shoes 8 used wear cotton socks 36 used walk bare feet foot care practices foot health statistically highly significant association plt001 eg number foot washes foot hygiene fungal infections proper foot drying emollient application skin texture cracks fissures associations proper foot care statistically significant literacy status patients foot care teachings plt005 conclusion diabetic patients taking proper foot care proper foot care practices associated provision education foot care literacy status patients community health education programs regarding diabetic foot care likely reduce diabetic foot complications keyword diabetes foot care education diabetic foot care diabetic foot ulceration prevention doi httpdxdoiorg103329jomv12i27604 jom 2011 122 109114