Publication:

A prospective study of analyzing foot wear practice in patients with diabetic foot problems

Background The aim is to study usage and type of footwear practices in patients with diabetic foot and assess their socioeconomic status of these patients.

Methods A prospective descriptive study was carried out in the Department of Surgery of Rajarajeswari Medical College, Bangalore, India. The study period was for 6 months.

Results A total of 38 patients were included in this study. There were 30 males (78.9%) and 8 females (21.1%). Majority of patients (47.4%) were illiterate and around 31.6% of the patient’s education was less than 10th standard. Only 2.6% of them had completed their degree. Majority of patients had type 1 diabetic foot complication accounting for 50 % of patients. Only 5.3% of patients were on therapeutic foot wear with 94.7% using inappropriate footwear. 81.6 % of patients walked barefoot outside house and 94.7% walked barefoot inside the house with only 5.3% of patients use some footwear even in house. Only 15.8% of patients with diabetic foot had received advice on footwear by their doctors.

Conclusions Diabetic foot is often neglected by patients and health care professionals. Except for 5.3% who used therapeutic footwear, 94.7% of the patients with diabetic foot were on inappropriate footwear. 81.6 % of patients walked barefoot outside house and 94.7% walked barefoot inside the house. Only 10.5% of patients change their footwear every year. None of the patients after surgery received any foot wear advice.