Assessment of the Knowledge of a Population of Diabetic Patients on the Health of Their Feet

Aims: To assess the knowledge of diabetic patients on the health of their feet and research the factors associated with good knowledge, while providing podiatric advice.

Study Design: Descriptive and analytical prospective study.

Place and Duration of Study: C Department (National Institute of Nutrition of Tunis), with a duration from 02 to 30 September 2019.

Methodology: We included 100 diabetic patients (44 men, 56 women; age range 29-87 years). They had an evaluation of their knowledge on the diabetic foot, using a medical chart, as well as a metabolic evaluation.

Results: The mean age was 54±12.9 years, The sex ratio was 0.78. 56% had a high school or higher education level. 35% of the population was smokers. Diabetes was type 2 in the majority of cases (78%). The average duration of progression of diabetes was 13.62±6.29 years. 78% of the population has been unbalanced. 34% of the population had good knowledge of preventive measures for diabetic foot. Having good knowledge of preventive measures was significantly associated with secondary or higher education (p=0.005), female gender (p=0.026) and glycemic control (p=0.043).

Conclusion: The prevalence of patients with good knowledge of preventive measures for the diabetic foot was low in our study and did not exceed one-third of the population. Larger studies are essential in order to identify the factors associated with poor podiatric knowledge and podiatric practices, as well as the factors which slow down adherence to preventive measures recommended.