Stream
Abstract - Diabetic Foot
Topic
Diabetes education
Abstract title
Variations in Diabetic-foot-care-knowledge among people with different type and duration of diabetes in Karachi
Co-authors	
H. Shaikh1, R. Hakeem1, A. Ansari1.
1Baqai Institute of Diabetology and Endocrinology, Diet and Education, karachi, Pakistan.
Abstract body	
Background
Good knowledge and practice regarding diabetic foot care will reduce the risk of diabetic foot complications and ultimately amputation. Foot ulcers are among the most common complications of diabetes. They become infected frequently, can be expensive to treat and usually are the first step towards amputation of a lower extremity. However, lack of time and other factors may limit provision of appropriate diabetic foot related education. Identifying the most important areas of knowledge deficit in general and in various subgroups of people with diabetes or their care takers can greatly help in making education more useful.

Aim
The objective of this study was to determine knowledge of foot care among people with diabetes and to explore differences in knowledge of people having different types and varying duration of diabetes

Method
A total of 100 persons with diabetes mellitus were selected as targeted population. The convenience sampling procedure was applied. Interview cum questionnaire method was used as a data tool. Data was collected from Baqai Institute of diabetology and endocrinology, Karachi. Data was entered in statistical package for the social science (SPSS) software version 20. 0.. Fifteen questions were asked regarding knowledge of foot care. Based on tertiles of total number of correct answers subjects were ccategorized as having Good Fair or poor knowledge. Proportion of subjects having good knowledge sub groups was calculated and Chi square test were applied to find out the statistical significance of the difference

Results
A total of 100 patients recruited for the study, 24 were type 1 diabetes mellitus and 76 were type 2 diabetes mellitus. Mean duration of diabetes of type 1 diabetes mellitus and type 2 diabetes mellitus people were 7.96 ± 6.00 and 10.78 ± 7.98 years respectively. Overall mean number of correct answers was 11. ± 2.06.

In relation to specific questions less than 60 % of subjects gave correct answers to questions about “applying moisturizers”, “stitches done at wound”, “feet drying”, “soaking feet in hot water”,” need an extra care”, and “footwear choice”

No significant difference was seen in mean of correct answers among subgroups with different types or varying duration of diabetes.

Mean of correct answers was 11.08 ± 2.25 in type 1 diabetes mellitus while it was 11.06 ± 2.03 in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Mean of correct answers was 11.19, 10.84 and 11.16 in sub groups with short, medium or long duration of diabetes respectively.

Knowledge for questions about need an extra care was answered significantly higher by people with type 1 diabetes mellitus as compared to Type 2 diabetes mellitus (87.5%, 47.7% respectively) p-value = .001

Knowledge for questions about avoiding bare foot walking was answered significantly higher by people with type 2 diabetes Mellitus as compared to type 1 diabetes mellitus (94.7%, 79.2% respectively) p-value= .020

Knowledge for questions about “need for professional dressing of wounds” was answered significantly higher by people with shorter duration of diabetes (83.3%) P values= .006

Discussion
This study has identified areas to focus in general and in relation to type and duration of diabetes subgroups. Evidence of a few significant subgroup differences indicate need for undertaking larger studies and making evidence based diabetes education programs.

Variations in diabetic foot care knowledge among people with different type and duration of diabetes in Karachi