KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE, PRACTICE AND THEIR PREDICTORS TOWARDS PREVENTION OF DIABETIC FOOT ULCER AMONG ADULT DIABETIC PATIENTS ATTENDING AT DIABETIC FOLLOW UP CLINIC AT GURAGE ZONE, SOUTHERN, ETHIOPIA, 2022

Abstract

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic and complex metabolic disorder that results into many complications. Diabetic foot ulcer is one of its complication and that affects life quality of diabetic patient. Despite its great negative impact on life quality, only few studies have been done so far to assess its determinants. Objective: To assess patients’ knowledge, attitude, practice on prevention of diabetic foot ulcer and their predictors among adult diabetic patients at selected hospitals in Gurage zone. Methodology: Institution-based cross-sectional study design was conducted among 380 patients selected by simple random sampling in three selected hospitals from Feb to June 2022. Data was collected using pretested and semi structured self-administered questionnaire. Collected data was entered in EPI and exported to SPSS version 25 for analysis. Descriptive analysis for frequency and percentage, and binary logistic regression for association was done. Results: Out of the 380 study participants, 374 were completed the study giving the response rate of 97.4%. The mean age of participants is 46.06 (13.5) years. From total, 148 (39.6%) had poor knowledge and 226 (60.4%) of participants had good knowledge towards prevention of diabetic foot ulcer. Nearly three fourth, 283 (78.8%) patients had positive attitude but only 185 (56.4%%) patients had good foot care practice. Socio-demographic variables such as residence, age group, educational status, religion, marital status, and history of diagnosed foot problem are found to be significantly associated with knowledge on prevention of diabetic foot ulcer. Attitude and practice of the patient also significantly associated with the age and educational status Conclusion Nearly half of the study participants had good knowledge and good practice. Age, educational status, occupation, residence, marital status and history foot problem are associated factors. Recommendation: The researches recommends that health care providers and responsible bodies like, health professionals, policy makers should create strategy to give quality health education to enhance the knowledge on prevention of diabetic foot ulcer