Discerning knowledge and practices towards diabetic foot care among adult diabetic patients attending St. Mary’s Mission Hospital, Nairobi. Insight into managing a potential diabetic foot

In our research study, we investigated how well people living with diabetes mellitus optimize the overall management of their condition to prevent development of diabetic foot or feet. Such vital limb complications, arising from poor knowledge and practices on foot care, especially in low socioeconomic households, are some of the serious outcomes of poorly managed diabetes mellitus.

Our study sought out and identified the favorable factors that can help mitigate adult diabetic foot.

By design, we surveyed and assessed the level of knowledge and practices towards diabetic foot care among adult diabetic patients attending a Medical Outpatient Clinic at a faith-based (Level IV) hospital in Nairobi, Keyna. A descriptive, cross-sectional hospital-based study was detailed with authorized permits and launched in May 2021, involving 140 adults living with diabetes who attended the cooperating institution, St. Mary’s Mission Hospital in Nairobi. The study participants were recruited by a census method. Data was collected on the level of knowledge and practices towards diabetic foot care using a pretested questionnaire for adult diabetic patients. Data analysis was done using descriptive and inferential statistics. Out of the 140 participants, 66% demonstrated a low level of knowledge on diabetic foot care and only 8% had a high level of knowledge. Half of the participants did not practice foot care as medically recommended. We found no significant association between the practice of adult diabetic foot care and socio-demographic variables. The findings reveal that both the level of knowledge and practice towards foot care by adults attending St. Mary’s Mission Hospital with diabetic mellitus conditions was strikingly unsatisfactory and served as a precursor for poor health.