Knowledge, attitudes, and practices among patients with diabetic foot ulcers towards disease management

This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) among patients with diabetic foot ulcers toward disease management. This web-based cross-sectional study was conducted between April and December 2023 at the Zhangzhou Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University. Patients diagnosed with diabetic foot ulcers were invited to participate. A structured self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data on demographic characteristics, KAP related to diabetic foot ulcer management. A total of 508 valid responses were analyzed. Pearson's correlation analysis and path analysis were performed to explore the relationships among knowledge, attitudes, and practices. A self-designed questionnaire was designed to gather demographic information from patients with diabetic foot ulcers and to assess their KAP toward disease management. A total of 508 valid questionnaires were collected. Among the participants, 273 (53.74%) were male, 345 (67.91%) were elder than 60 years old, 393 (77.36%) resided in rural area and 470 (92.52%) reported not engaging in regular exercise. The mean knowledge, attitudes, and practices scores were 6.15 ± 1.54 (possible range: 0-11), 35.49 ± 2.87 (possible range:12-60), and 26.81 ± 2.60 (possible range: 10-50), respectively. The path analysis demonstrated that knowledge exerted a direct influence on attitudes (β = 0.751, P < 0.001) and practices (β = 0.380, P < 0.001), with an additional indirect effect on practices through attitudes (β = 0.332, P < 0.001). Furthermore, attitude demonstrated a direct impact on practices, as indicated by a path coefficient of 0.442 (P < 0.001). Patients with diabetic foot ulcers showed good knowledge and positive attitudes, yet specific deficiencies remain, highlighting the need for ongoing patient education and healthcare support.