Awareness of Elderly Patients Regarding Diabetic Foot Ulcer Prevention at EL Fayoum General Hospital

Background: Diabetic foot ulcers are one of the most common chronic complications of diabetes that has a tremendous economic and social impact on individuals, families and the health system as a whole. Aims: this study aims to assess awareness of elderly patients regarding diabetic foot ulcer prevention at the EL- Fayoum General Hospital. Research design: Descriptive research design was used. Setting: The study was conducted at the medicine outpatient clinic at EL- Fayoum General Hospital. Subjects: Purposive sample composed of 300 elderly diagnosed with diabetes. Tools for data collection: Two tools for data collection were used as follow: 1st tool: Structured Interviewing Questionnaire include demographic characteristics of elderly diabetic patients, past and current medical history, Knowledge assessment questionnaire, patients reported practice questionnaires. 2nd tool: Observational check list questionnaire to assess foot ulcer risk included neurological foot assessment and peripheral vascular assessment. Results: revealed that 7% and 40.30% of studied subjects respectively had total good knowledge and adequate reported practice. In addition to, 14.23±3.004, 11.38±2.57 and 11.32±2.63 respectively were total score of neurological items, right and left peripheral vascular items. Conclusion: The current study concludes that statistically significant difference between neurological risk exposure and total score of knowledge. As well as, significant difference between vascular risk exposures, total score of knowledge, total reported practice score and neurological risk Recommendations: Develop an effective health education program to improve the knowledge and practice of the prevention of diabetic foot ulcers to avoid or reduce the risk of foot ulcers.