title: Effect of Infrared Radiation on the Healing of Diabetic Foot Ulcer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Diabetic foot ulcer is a worldwide health care concern affecting tens of thousands of patients. If these ulcers left untreated, they can create severe complications.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study was designed to examine the effect of infrared radiation on the healing of diabetic foot ulcer.
  
  
  METHODS
  This clinical trial was performed on 50 patients referred to Dr. Ganjavian hospital in Dezful city, Iran, with diabetic foot ulcer degree 1 and 2 (based on Wegener Scale). Sample size was determined based on relevant studies of the recent decade. Patients were classified into the intervention and control groups (n = 25 in each group) in terms of age, gender, degree of ulcer, ulcer site and body mass index. In this study, work progress was evaluated according to the checklist of diabetic foot ulcer healing evaluation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results of the current study showed that there was a statistically significant difference in healing ulcers (P < 0.05) and mean healing time (P < 0.05) between the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Using the infrared plus routine dressing is more effective than using merely routine dressing.
authors.affiliation: Nursing Care Research Center in Chronic Diseases, Department of Nursing, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Ashrafalsadat
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hakim
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sadeghi Moghadam
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Abdalali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shariati
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Dezful University of Medical Sciences, Dezful, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Hamid
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Karimi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Mohamad Hossien
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Haghighizadeh
keywords: Diabetic Foot Ulcer; Infrared Radiation; Routine Dressing