Detection of Risk for Foot Ulceration and its Relation to Foot Self-care among Diabetic Elderly Patients

Abstract: Most amputations are caused by foot ulcers among diabetic older adults so it is essential to identify people who are at risk as early as possible. Aim: was to detect the risk for foot ulceration and its relation to foot self-care among diabetic elders. Design: A descriptive research design was conducted on 300 elderly patients with type II diabetes from the outpatient clinic and medical department of Minia University Hospital, Egypt. Tools: Demographic characteristics, medical data, and two research instruments were used (1- Standardized INLOW’S 60 s diabetic foot screening tool. 2) Nottingham Assessment of Functional Foot Care Scale (NAFFC).Results: The mean age was (71.36±6.835) and 60% were male. Foot examination reflected 62.6% and 22% of the participants were at moderate and high risk for foot ulcers respectively. Additionally, 60.7% of them had low adherence level to foot self-care practices with a negative correlation between patients' risk for foot ulceration and their adherence to foot care with (r=.889-& p <.000). Conclusion: Around half of the studied sample were at risk for foot ulceration added to, 60.7% of them had poor foot care behaviors which demand urgent prophylactic strategies for reducing diabetic foot ulcer related morbidity and mortality among diabetic elders. Recommendations: Healthcare providers should emphasize regular foot screening along with proper education for diabetic elderly patients to detect the risky cases of DFUs at an early stage and consequently prevent foot complications.