Nurses’ Knowledge and Attitude Caring for Patients With Diabetic Foot

Background Diabetic foot complications are among the most common and serious outcomes of diabetes, often leading to infection, amputation, and reduced quality of life. Nurses play a crucial role in diabetic foot prevention and management through early identification, education, and evidence-based care. This study aimed to evaluate nurses' knowledge and attitudes toward the management of diabetic foot care in diabetic patients. Methods This quantitative descriptive study was conducted between November and June 2022 with a sample of 146 nurses from two hospitals in Izmir, Turkey. Data were collected using three tools: the Nurse Introduction Form , the Attitude Scale Towards Diabetic Foot Care , and the Diabetic Foot Knowledge Form . Scores on the Attitude Scale range from 8 to 40, with higher scores indicating more positive attitudes, while the Knowledge Form scores range from 0 to 30, with higher scores reflecting greater knowledge. Statistical analyses were performed to examine relationships between demographic variables, knowledge, and attitude scores. Results No statistically significant relationship was found between nurses’ demographic characteristics and their Diabetic Foot Knowledge Form scores. However, a significant relationship was identified between nurses’ total mean attitude scores and the variables of age and professional experience. Nurses with more years of experience and those working in Hospital Y exhibited higher attitude scores compared to their counterparts. Conclusions Age, clinical experience, and institutional factors influence nurses' attitudes toward diabetic foot care. These results underscore the importance of targeted, evidence-based training programs to enhance nurses’ knowledge and foster positive attitudes. Such initiatives can contribute to improving the quality and outcomes of diabetic foot care. It is recommended that in-service training be tailored to nurses’ educational needs, recent evidence in wound care be continuously integrated, and organizational barriers such as time constraints and staffing shortages be addressed. Trial registration: Not applicable. This study did not involve a clinical intervention and therefore was not registered as a clinical trial.