Diabetic foot self-care practices and its predictors among chronic diabetic mellitus patients of southwestern Ethiopia hospitals: A cross sectional study

Background: The prevalence of foot ulcers has increased globally due to the worldwide burden of diabetes mellitus and the poor practice of diabetic foot self-care. Objective: The study aimed to identify the diabetic foot self-care practices among diabetic patients in south western Ethiopian hospitals. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted for a total of 387 diabetic patients at Bedele General Hospital and Mettu Karl Comprehensive Specialized Hospital. The validated tool of the Nottingham Assessment of Functional Footcare (NAFF) was used to assess the diabetic foot self-care practice. The data was collected by using face-to-face interview method. The multivariate logistic regression was employed to identify the predictors. Data was analyzed using a statistical package for social science (SPSS version 23). Result: Of the 387 patients, a total of 39.8 % of the patients had good diabetic foot self-care practice. Higher educational status (AOR = 2.901(1.213–6.937), P = 0.017), previous information about diabetic foot care (AOR = 2.46(1.90–7.719), P = 0.04) and knowledge level of diabetic foot care(AOR = 2.51(1.43–5.34), P = <0.001) were the predictors of the diabetic foot care practices. Conclusion: More than half of the study participants had poor diabetic foot self-care practice. Diabetic foot self-care practice was associated with a level of education, previous information, and the knowledge level of diabetic foot care. Therefore, the hospital should provide continuous diabetic foot care education to enhance their foot care practices.