Assessment of knowledge and attitude of nurses and nursing students towards diabetic foot care management and their practices in diabetic foot screening in educational hospitals of Tabriz in 1401

Abstract

Abstract Aim: Diabetes is associated with increasing mortality, disability, and increased costs. Diabetic foot and lower limb complications due to diabetes are known as chronic and dangerous complications of diabetes, significantly reducing the quality of life in affected patients and increasing the likelihood of premature death. Early diagnosis of diabetic foot problems allows for timely intervention and prevention of debilitating complications such as amputation, which requires a multidisciplinary treatment and care team. In addition, nurses play an important role in preventing diabetic foot ulcers and amputation through interventions such as patient education, screening high-risk individuals, and providing health care. It should be noted that nursing students, as future health care providers, can also play an effective role in increasing patients' knowledge and awareness and educating them. The aim of this study was to investigate the knowledge and attitudes of nurses and nursing students about diabetic foot care management and their practices in the field of diabetic foot screening. Methods: This research is a descriptive-cross-sectional study conducted in 1401. In this study, 284 nurses working in educational hospitals of Tabriz and 200 students studying at the undergraduate and graduate levels of Tabriz School of Nursing and Midwifery were randomly selected. Data collection was carried out using a four-part questionnaire including demographic and occupational characteristics, a knowledge assessment questionnaire, an attitude assessment questionnaire, and a diabetic foot screening checklist. The data were finally analyzed using SPSS 22 software. Results: the mean scores of knowledge of nurses and nursing students about diabetic foot care management were 11.41 and 11.69, respectively, which showed that about 55% of the nurses and students studied in this study had relatively good knowledge and awareness. The average scores of attitude of nurses and nursing students about diabetic foot care management were 37.16 and 39.01, which approximately 49% of the nurses and students studied had a positive attitude. In the self-assessment checklist for diabetic foot screening, the average scores of nurses and nursing students were 8.17 and 8.47, which indicates the poor practice of diabetic foot screening. Conclusion: In this study, the highest level of awareness was related to diabetic foot risk factors, and paticipants need more education in other areas of diabetic foot. The overall attitude of participants in this study was reported to be positive, and 21% of students considered diabetic foot care to be time-consuming. In addition, based on the results of self-assessment of diabetic foot screening, the minority of the participants performed very well, which is very concerning and is probably related to the negative attitudes. Also, 40% of nursing students stated that they generally do not perform diabetic foot examination and evaluation, which of course requires further studies.