[Primary-care prevention activities in outpatients suffering from diabetic foot care].
OBJECTIVE
Determining the prevalence of prevention activities regarding diabetic foot recommended by doctors and carried out by out-patients attending general medicine self-care foot control and describing food habits.


METHODS
This was a descriptive and cross-sectional studywhich was carried out in two health-care institutions in Bogotá, from March to October 2008, by weightedconveniencesampling of 307 diabetic patients, aged over 18 years.


RESULTS
Some patients had a background of foot ulcers (13.0 %) and amputations of the lower limbs(1.6 %). Some patients referredto dysesthesia(65.5 %) and intermittent claudication (33.6 %)whilst many stated that they had received no education about foot care from their doctors(78.2 %). Many stated that the doctor had not checked their feet during the last year (76.2 %)and others that, despite presenting dysesthesia and intermittent claudication(89.0 % and 93.0 %, respectively), the patients had not been asked about these symptoms. Regarding patient activities,some did not checktheir feet each day (63.1 %), did not perform self-monitoring (93.4 %), consumed more than two sources of carbohydrateduring the main meals (38. %)and/or added sugar, "panela" or honey to preparations (38.8 %).


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of diabetic foot prevention practices recommended by doctors and carried out by patients was poor. Interdisciplinary programmes must thus be created and strengthenedfor preventing diabetes mellitus and diabetic foot, at primary- attention out-patient level, besides providing pertinent trainingfor health teams.
Departamento de Medicina Interna, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá. aepinillar@bt.unal.edu.co
Análida E
AE
Pinilla
Ana L
AL
Sánchez
Arturo
A
Mejía
María del Pilar
Mdel P
Barrera
D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000379:methods*; D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015190:Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003105:Colombia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000453:epidemiology; D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000453:epidemiology; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007383:Intermittent Claudication / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010292:Paresthesia / Q000453:epidemiology; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D016353:Self-Examination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012775:Shoes; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014505:Urban Population