Self-management assessment for diabetic foot patients in Wasit city, Iraq

Background: The estimated yearly incidence is 2%, with a predicted lifetime incidence ranging from 19% to 34%; diabetic foot ulcers are a major complication with substantial morbidity, death, and resource requirements. Because of these reasons, self -management in foor ulcers is very important ıssıue. Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate diabetic foot self-care management among individuals with diabetes in Wasit, Iraq Under the primary objective, the research explored the potential relationship between independent variables (age, gender, family size, marital status, work experience, educational status and income satisfaction) and the dependent variable (score of DFSQ-UMA and its subscales). Methods: Data for this cross-sectional descriptive study design was gathered from the Diabetics and Endocrine Centre in Wasit City, Iraq, spanning the period from February 20, 2022, to June 1, 2022. The study comprised a sample of 169 patients. The sample was chosen using a purposive sample. The questionnaire comprised three sections. The initial section encompassed eight sociodemographic questions, while the second section delved into patients' medical history with seven additional questions. The third part contains a scale consisting of 16 questions that questions diabetic foot self-care management in Arab patients (DFSQ-AR). Results: The mean total DFSQ-UMA score was found to be 52.62 ± 2.57. The mean scores for personal self-care, podiatric care, and footwear were 21.30 ± 1.85, 14.08 ± 1.32, and 17.24 ± 1.81, respectively. . The majority of participants under 65 years old had a significant effect on self-care for diabetic feet (P<0.05). Regarding the footwear and socks subdimension, diabetic foot patients with master's degree graduates had a significantly higher level in foot care (19.67±0.98; P<0.05). Most participants with a diabetes mellitus (DM) duration of more than 16 years generally exhibited moderate knowledge about personal self-care for diabetic feet (22.12 ±2.02; P<0.05). Conclusion: The study showed that most patients with diabetic foot ulcers in the Wasit Government had insufficient diabetes self-management practices Due to the insufficient participants' knowledge about diabetic foot care in this study, we recommend that developing and implementing educational programs dedicated to diabetic foot care is crucial. Anahtar Kelimeler: Diyabetik ayak, Öz yönetim, Şeker hastaları