Disease knowledge in patients attending a diabetic foot clinic.
BACKGROUND
Foot-specific patient education is an essential element of a health system diabetic foot program. Foot-specific patient education must be individualized, because of cognitive deficits in individuals with long-standing diabetes.


METHODS
Two hundred and two consecutive patients attending diabetic foot specialty clinics were asked to provide demographics and complete a 10-question multiple-choice questionnaire. All attended the clinics because of their high-risk status for the development of diabetic foot infection or ulcers. All received ongoing foot-specific patient education.


RESULTS
In spite of this ongoing patient education program, only approximately 80% were able to respond appropriately to simple questions related to the care of their "at-risk" feet.


CONCLUSIONS
This simple quality initiative reinforces the notion that patients with diabetes who are at risk for the development of diabetic foot ulcers should receive ongoing foot-specific patient education. This information needs to be constantly reinforced, as retention drops with time.
Batista
Fabio
F
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Federal University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Pinzur
Michael S
MS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods; D012153:Retention, Psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires