Development and Pilot Testing of a Diabetes Foot Care and Complications Questionnaire for Adults with Diabetes in Oman: The Diabetic Foot Disease and Foot Care Questionnaire

• Published in: Oman medical journal 2020-07, Vol.35 (4), p.1-8
• Main Authors: Al-Busaidi , Ibrahim S, Abdulhadi , Nadia N, Coppell , Kirsten J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ADULTS; amputation; BASIC HEALTH; Complications; DIABETES; diabetes mellitus; diabetic foot; Diabetics; Education; Evaluation; FOOT DISEASES; OMAN; Original; PATIENTS; Planning; Prevention; Primary health care; self care; Self-care, Health; surveys and questionnaires; Treatment; ulcer; Ulcers; أمراض القدم; الراشدون; الرعاية الصحية الأساسية; المرضى; عمان; مرض السكر
• ISSN: 1999-768X; 2070-5204
• DOI: 10.5001/omj.2020.65

Objectives: Diabetic foot disease causes substantial morbidity and mortality, but it can be prevented. Our study examined the frequency of diabetes-related foot problems and foot self-care practices, as reported by consecutive patients attending primary and secondary diabetes services in Muscat, Oman. Methods: A cross-sectional survey utilizing a newly developed and pre-tested questionnaire was conducted at eight primary health care centers and one polyclinic (secondary care) in A'Seeb, Muscat. A convenience sample of 353 consecutive Omanis, aged 20 years and above, diagnosed with diabetes were invited to participate in this study. We collected data on clinico-demographic characteristics, patient-reported foot complications, and foot self-care practices. Results: Of the 350 patients who agreed to participate (mean diabetes duration 7.9+-7.4 years, response rate: 99.2%), 62.3% were female, 57.4% were unemployed, more than half were illiterate (52.9%), and around three-quarters (71.4%) were unsure of the type of diabetes they had. More than half (55.1%) reported having at least one or more sensory peripheral neuropathy symptoms, almost half (49.1%) reported one or more peripheral vascular disease symptoms in the previous month, and 12.5% a history of foot ulceration. Reported foot self-care practices were overall suboptimal; 54.7% did not examine the bottom of their feet each day. Conclusions: Although self-reported diabetes-related foot complications were common in this population, foot self-care practices were inadequate. These findings suggest a need for the provision of regular foot care education to patients with diabetes. Future research should explore barriers to recommended foot self-care practices.