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Qutob RA, Hakami OA, Aldosari L, Alharfi M, Alnader RY, Alomar A, Alaryni A, Alghamdi A, Alsolamy E, Al Harbi K, Alammari Y, Alotay AA, Alhajery MA, Alanazi A. Foot Care Prioritization Among Health Care Providers Treating Diabetic Patients in Saudi Arabia: A Survey-Based Study. Cureus 2023; 15:e50798. [PMID: 38239532 PMCID: PMC10796156 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.50798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Diabetic foot disease (DFD) is a significant complication associated with diabetes, characterized by the potential for progressive amputation of specific foot segments or the entire lower limb in the absence of timely identification of infection and intervention. The aim of our research is to evaluate the degree of importance given to foot care by healthcare professionals who are responsible for treating individuals with diabetes in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. METHODS This cross-sectional study utilized an online survey previously validated in Australia. The mean foot care prioritization score was used to identify the dummy variable for binary logistic regression analysis, which was used to identify predictors of foot care prioritization. RESULTS A total of 222 participants were involved in this study. Assessing for the risk of developing foot complications, visually inspecting feet for wounds, and providing or recommending footwear to prevent foot complications were the most commonly reported practices, accounting for 80.60% (n = 178), 76.10% (n = 169), and 75.20% (n = 167), respectively. The most commonly referred patients to a specialist tertiary multi-disciplinary foot care team were patients with ulcers in patients with absent foot pulses, ulcers with ascending cellulitis, and diabetic ulceration, accounting for 73.50% (n = 163), 71.60% (n = 159), and 66.70% (n = 148), respectively. The mean foot care prioritization score for the study participants was 54.1 (standard deviation: 11.7) out of 78 (69.4%), which demonstrates a moderately high level of foot care prioritization. Binary logistic regression analysis identified that healthcare professionals who are aged 35-44 years, those who have 5-10 years of experience, those who work at private hospitals, those who have a higher number of practice clinics per week, and those who have to manage a higher number of patients with diabetes in each clinic were more likely to prioritize foot care in their practices (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION Our study found that healthcare professionals in Saudi Arabia place a moderate degree of emphasis on foot care. Healthcare professionals falling within the age range of 35-44 years, possessing 5-10 years of experience, employed at private hospitals, overseeing a greater number of practice clinics weekly, and managing a greater number of patients with diabetes per clinic exhibited a greater propensity to prioritize foot care within their respective practices. Policymakers should consider the integration of continuous glucose monitoring technologies, the establishment of standardized foot screening protocols, and the implementation of targeted educational programs for healthcare professionals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rayan A Qutob
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, SAU
| | - Osamah A Hakami
- Department of Internal Medicine, King Abdullah Medical City in Holy Capital (KAMC-HC), Makkah, SAU
| | - Layan Aldosari
- College of Medicine, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, SAU
| | - Mohammad Alharfi
- College of Medicine, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, SAU
| | - Raghad Y Alnader
- College of Medicine, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, SAU
| | - Abdulaziz Alomar
- College of Medicine, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, SAU
| | - Abdullah Alaryni
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, SAU
| | - Abdullah Alghamdi
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, SAU
| | - Eysa Alsolamy
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, SAU
| | - Khalid Al Harbi
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, SAU
| | - Yousef Alammari
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, SAU
| | - Abdulwahed Abdulaziz Alotay
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, SAU
| | - Mohammad A Alhajery
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, SAU
| | - Abdulrahman Alanazi
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, SAU
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