The current status of foot self-care knowledge, behaviours, and analysis of influencing factors in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in China

PurposeTo investigate the knowledge and behaviours on foot self-care in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus; analyse the influential factors, and provide information for the intervention study.MethodsA total of 5961 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus from 144 hospitals in China were included in the study. The investigation content included patients' demographic data, foot self-care knowledge and behaviours. The investigation tools were the questionnaires on the general diabetes information, on the foot self-care knowledge, and on the foot self-care behaviours.ResultsThe foot self-care knowledge was medium and the foot self-care behaviour was poor. The status of knowledge and behaviours were influenced by education, duration of diabetes mellitus, periodic inspection, and education about diabetic complications. Pearson analysis demonstrated that there was positive correlation between knowledge score and behaviour score (r = 0.27, p < 0.001).ConclusionsThe status of foot self-care knowledge and behaviours are not optimistic. According to the patients' own characteristics, the theory of knowledge, attitude and practice applies to encouraging patients to go for periodic inspection and education about diabetic complications so as to enhance the knowledge and promote the self-care behaviours.