The effect of diabetic patient's knowledge and attitudes about diabetic foot on the development of diabetic foot lesions

Diabetes mellitus is a serious health problem due to higher incidence and complications. The effects of chronic complications of diabetes mellitus are mostly seen in lower extremities. Diabetic foot lesions can be prevented but when occurs, it may result in serious morbidity and even amputation and mortality. In prevention of diabetic foot lesions, training on diabetes and foot care are important. This study was designed to evaluate the relation between the patients? knowledge and attitudes about diabetes and the occurrence of diabetic foot, to test their need for education on diabetes.This study was carried out in four health centers; Afyon Kocatepe University, Ege University, Akdeniz University and a center applying HBOT in Antalya. The study group consisted of 230 patients, 92 females and 138 males, admitted to these centers with diabetic foot lesion. Four forms were used for data collection. Those were socio- demographic characteristics information form, diabetes knowledge test form, diabetic foot care knowledge form, Wagner classification form and clinical evaluation form according to severity of existing infection. Data were analysed using Anova (F) test, ?2 (Chi-Square) independence test and correlation analysis with SPSS 18.0 statistics package program.In our study, no relation between the patients? educational level and wound grade according to Wagner classification system. It was found that patients who took previous diabetic foot care are under higher risk to develop new diabetic lesions. Additionally, it was seen that some of the those patients didn't get education on diabetes and diabetic foot care. It was also found that diabetes knowledge level was significantly higher in patients attended training programs than the patients who did not attend the training programs. It was found that the level of patients? knowledge about diabetes was related with the wound stage but no correlation was determined between their knowledge level on diabetic foot care and wound stages.The patients should be given training on diabetes when the diagnosis of diabetes was established. To determine efficacy of training, they should be tested periodically about their knowledge and current developments should be given to those patients. Media should be used to inform patients about diabetes and its complications.Key Words: Diabetes mellitus, diabetic foot, diabetic foot care, diabetic foot care knowledge level, diabetes knowledge level, Wagner classification and clinical classification according to severity of infection.