Foot Self Care in Diabetic Patients

OBJECTIVE: Foot ulcer in diabetic people has a negative effect on their quality of life. It can decrease social activities, and increase stress. It can also limit doing job tasks, and increase life financial burden and high medical expenses. So examination of feet and considering foot care in these patients are essential. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This analytic-descriptive research was performed on 80 hospitalized diabetic patients in 2009 using questionnaires to assess their demographic data and self foot care. The subjects were selected in a convenience method. RESULTS: Only 7.5% of subjects had been educated about self care to prevention of foot ulcer. Practice level in self care behaviors of 15% of them was good, 60% moderate and 25% low. There was a significant relationship between sex and the amount of foot care and between the histories of foot ulcer existence and the amount of foot care according to chi-square test. CONCLUSION: Preventive measures can decrease the incidence of foot ulcer in diabetic people so it seems that providing educational programs about the ulcer and prevention methods is necessary to improve these patients' quality of life.