Knowledge of Risk Factors for Foot Ulceration among Patients with Diabetes Mellitus Attending a Tertiary Health Facility in Nigeria

Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is a relatively common complication of diabetes mellitus and constitutes a major cause of mortality. This study aimed to assess the knowledge of risk factors for foot ulceration among patients with diabetes in a tertiary health facility in South Western Nigeria.

This cross-sectional study was initiated with participation of 100 diabetic patients. Diabetic patients were attending the medical outpatient clinic of the University College Hospital, Ibadan. A structured and validated questionnaire was administered and data was analyzed using SPSS 22. Association between sociodemographic characteristics and knowledge of risk factors for foot ulceration was evaluated by chi-square test.

Most of respondents were female (66%). The mean age of the patients was 58.77 (±11.8) years and 51% of patients did not know that it is possible to develop foot ulcer without feeling pain and 30% did not know that features suggestive of neuropathy could be associated with development of foot ulcer. 75% did not know that surgical vascular repair could play any role in the healing of a diabetic foot ulcer. 11% of patients were walking barefooted at home and as much as 63% of respondents did not know that poor long-term glycemic control could be a risk factor for the development of diabetic foot ulcers.

The knowledge of the patients attending the diabetes clinic of a tertiary hospital in south-western Nigeria on foot care is generally poor. Education in this direction is very paramount to correct this defect.