Results of a 60 second foot screening for patients with diabetes conducted on the 2011 world diabetes day

Abstract

Background: One of the disabling complications of diabetes is foot ulcer and a major way of preventing this complication is access to prompt and regular foot screening. However, because of many competing health demands of the patients, foot screening does not receive adequate attention and many do not get to be screened early enough especially in the developing countries like Nigeria. This study applied a foot screening protocol on diabetic patients who converged at the 2011 annual World Diabetes Day held in Ibadan, Nigeria.

Methods: This study was a one-day cross-sectional survey. Patients were screened for the risk of diabetic foot using the 60 Second Diabetic Foot Screen. The screening covered aspects of past histories of foot ulcers, circulatory disorders, foot deformities and peripheral neuropathy. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics at p=0.05.

Results: Seventy-five patients with mean age of 60.0±12.6 years participated in the screening. Foot deformities (12%), thick planter calluses (13.3%), maceration between toes (16%) and peripheral neuropathy (21.3%) were seen among the patients. Overall, 29.2% of the patients presented with at least a risk for the development of foot ulcer and only random blood glucose was significantly associated (p=0.018) with peripheral neuropathy.

Conclusions: This study has shown that about one out of every three of the patients with diabetes presented with at least a risk for the development of foot ulcer. This study has also demonstrated that foot screening carried out on special days like the World Diabetes Days may serve as an opportunity to provide at least once in a year foot screening access to patients with diabetes.