An Exploratory Study to Assess the Risk of Diabetic Foot Ulcer among Diabetic Patients with a View to Provide Health Education in Selected Hospital of Economically Developing Nation

Diabetic foot ulcers are major medical, social and economical problem and are the leading cause of hospitalization for patients with diabetes. The presence of foot complications in people with diabetes increase their health care cost and poses heavy socioeconomic burden, both to the patient as well as the nation. Therefore this study was undertaken with the aim to assess the risk of diabetic foot ulcer among diabetic patients.

The present study was conducted from January to March 2016 in selected hospital of Ambala, Haryana. Convenience sampling technique was used to obtain samples. The sample comprised of 100 diabetic patients. Data was collected using Diabetic foot ulcer risk assessment tool. The collected data was analyzed and interpreted in accordance with objectives using inferential and descriptive statistics. Health education regarding prevention of diabetic foot ulcer was provided to each patient irrespective of his/her diabetic foot ulcer risk.

Study findings shows that 79% of diabetic patients were having low risk of developing foot ulcer whereas 21% patients were having high risk of developing foot ulcer.

Based on the findings, it is concluded that patients with diabetes are having risk for developing diabetic foot ulcer. Therefore diabetic patients must be screened for diabetic foot ulcer at early stage and efforts should be taken to reduce the occurrence of diabetic foot ulcer among diabetic patients.