Assessment of foot care practice among adults with diabetes mellitus in Ogbomoso, Nigeria.

Background: The prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) has steadily increased as also the number of people bearing its complications. One of such complications is diabetic foot disease. Foot care is an integral part of diabetes self-care and preventive strategy for reduction of diabetic foot disease and ultimate amputation.

Aim: To assess foot care practices among adults with diabetes mellitus accessing care at the Out-patient Clinic of the Bowen University Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, Nigeria.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study comprising of 384 adults aged 18 years and above with diabetes mellitus of at least 6 months duration. A systematic sampling technique was used to recruit the participants for this study. Nottingham Assessment of Functional Foot Care (NAFFC) was used to assess the foot care practices of the participants. Data analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23.

Results: Of the 384 participants recruited for the study, 321 (83.6%) had good foot care practice and 63 (16.4%) had poor foot care practice. Gender, level of education and medication use had significant association with foot care practice.

Conclusion: Foot care practice was good in majority of the participants in this study. As such, clinicians need to be consistent in providing self-foot care practice education to prevent diabetic foot diseases.