Knowledge and Practice on Diabetic Foot Self-care and its Associated Factors among Diabetic Patients at Asella Referral and Teaching Hospital, Arsi University, Southeast Ethiopia

Abstract Background: Diabetic foot ulcer is a major complication that can lead to infection, amputation, and death. The risk of diabetic foot ulcers can be reduced through foot self-care, patient education, and proper preventative measures. In Ethiopia, diabetes is among the real health challenges. Despite the fact that poor foot self-care is an important risk factor for foot ulcers, data on the level of knowledge and practice on diabetic foot self-care and its associated factors was limited in this study area. The study was aimed to assess the level of knowledge and practice on diabetic foot self-care and its associated factors among diabetic patients. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in southeast Ethiopia. A total of 352 study subjects were recruited using a convenience sampling method. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with diabetic foot self-care knowledge and practice. A p-value of <0.05 was used to declare a significant association. Results: A total of 140 (39.8%) and 142 (40.3%) participants had good foot self-care knowledge and good foot self-care practice, respectively. Being male (AOR=1.987, 95%CI:1.14-3.48, P<0.05), urban residence (AOR=1.814, 95% CI:1.03-3.21, P<0.05), not educated and completed primary education (AOR=0.362, 95% CI:0.17-0.76, P<0.01 and AOR=0.393, 95% CI: 0.19-0.83, P<0.05), history of previous foot ulcer (AOR=2.57, 95%CI:1.43-4.61, P<0.01), family history of diabetes (AOR=2.664, 95%CI:1.52-4.66, P<0.01), and receiving foot care advice/education (AOR=2.10, 95%CI:1.25-3.54, P<0.01)were predictors of good diabetic foot self-care knowledge. Low monthly income (≤1500 Ethiopian birr) (AOR=0.265, 95%CI:0.09-0.80,P<0.05), not educated and completed primary education (AOR=0.318, 95%CI:0.15-0.67,P<0.01 and AOR=0.383, 95%CI: 0.18-0.81,P<0.05), history of previous foot ulcer (AOR=1.987, 95% CI:1.11-3.56,P<0.05), receiving foot care advice/education (AOR=2.115, 95%CI:1.26-3.56, P<0.01), and having good foot self-care knowledge (AOR=1.786, 95%CI:1.06-3.02, P<0.05) were predictors of good diabetic foot self-care practice. Conclusion: The study found that the level of diabetic foot self-care knowledge and practice was low. To enhance care and outcomes, efforts should focus on increasing education, particularly for vulnerable groups like women, rural residents, those with lower income, and lower educational levels.