Knowledge and Practice on Diabetic Foot Prevention and Self-care by Patients at the Bamenda Regional Hospital, Cameroon

Abstract

Background: Diabetic foot is one of the most feared complications of diabetes and is the leading cause of hospitalization among diabetic patients. Diabetes affects people worldwide and poses major public health and socio-economic challenges. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the knowledge and practice of patients on diabetic foot prevention and self-care. 

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out with a focus on diabetic patients attending the diabetic clinic at the Bamenda Regional Hospital, Cameroon. A total of 60 diabetic patients were randomly sampled, and a structured questionnaire was used for data collection. 

Results: Most of the patients were females (65%), were educated to the primary level (60%), were aged 50-69 years (67%), and did not have any regular monthly income (45%). A majority of diabetic patients had the disease for at least 9 years (56.7%), had no knowledge on diabetic foot (65%), and up to 68.3% had no idea on diabetic foot self-care. 

Conclusions: The results highlight gaps in patients’ knowledge of foot care, which is still sub-standard. Also, their practice of foot care was inadequate. This was associated with illiteracy, low socio-economic conditions, and inadequate education of patients by the healthcare providers. Therefore, patient’s education on self-care management of foot should be incorporated into the routine care of patients with diabetes both in clinics and in the community settings.