Foot Care Practices And Knowledge Among The Hospitalized Diabetic Older Adult In The Teaching Hospital, Kuala Lumpur

Abstract

Background: The increasing rate in a diabetic’s foot ulcer among the older adults has become a challenge that continually rising and worsening. The Diabetic foot ulcers have a considerable negative impact on the older adults’ lives and often lead to lower end amputation.

Objective: This study is conducted to determine the relationships between foot care practices and knowledge among diabetic hospitalized older adults in the UKM Medical Centre (UKMMC), a teaching hospital in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia.

Methods: This is a quantitative cross-sectional descriptive study.

Results: The result revealed 6.2% of the respondents show good practices of foot care. Meanwhile, 90.1% of the respondents reported having a high level of knowledge of foot care. There was a significant relationship between gender and marital status with the knowledge of foot care among the diabetic older adults in UKMMC. However, there is no significant difference between with or without of foot ulcer and knowledge level of foot care among the diabetic older adults.

Conclusion: In conclusion, high knowledge of foot care alone is not enough to prevent diabetic foot ulcers but needs to translate into daily health practices. The result of this study will help the health organization, hospital, nurses and caregiver to take more responsibilities in taking care of the diabetic older adults in foot care.