Evaluating diabetic foot care knowledge and practices at education level.

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Public Health
• Diabetes Management

Background:

• Diabetic foot complications, including ulcers and amputations, are significant concerns in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).
• Adequate patient knowledge and consistent practice of diabetic foot care are essential for mitigating these severe outcomes.
• Educational attainment may influence a patient's understanding and adherence to diabetic foot care protocols.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between the educational levels of diabetic patients and their knowledge and practices regarding diabetic foot care.
• To identify how education impacts the control of T2DM and the prevalence of related comorbidities.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 534 patients with diabetes mellitus from public and private hospitals.
• Data collected via a validated, structured bilingual questionnaire (Arabic, English).
• Analysis included demographic data, duration of diabetes, and comorbidities like hypertension and heart disease, correlating these with education levels.

Main Results:

• Patients with lower education levels demonstrated a higher incidence of diabetic complications compared to those with higher education levels (P < .05).
• Uncontrolled HbA1c levels significantly increased the likelihood of hypertension and heart disease.
• A longer duration of diabetes (>10 years) was associated with an increased risk of heart disease.

Conclusions:

• Patient education and awareness campaigns are vital for improving diabetes control and preventing complications, especially for individuals with lower educational backgrounds.
• Healthcare providers must emphasize patient education and medication adherence to enhance diabetes management and reduce the risk of adverse outcomes.
• Addressing educational disparities is key to effective diabetic foot care and overall T2DM management.