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East and Central African Journal of Surgery
Association of Surgeons of East Africa and College of Surgeons of East Central and Southern Africa
ISSN: 1024-297X EISSN: 1024-297X
Vol. 19, No. 3, 2014, pp. 22-28
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Bioline Code: js14051
Full paper language: English
Document type: Editorial
Document available free of charge
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East and Central African Journal of Surgery, Vol. 19, No. 3, 2014, pp. 22-28
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Challenges of Foot Care among Patients Attending Diabetic Clinic: A low Resource Country Experience
Akoko, L.O. & Lutfi, A.
Abstract
Background: Foot complications are a serious and costly complication of Diabetes Mellitus.
With about one third of Tanzanian diabetic patients likely to require hospitalization due to
limb complications, with its high mortality, which can be prevented or decreased by proper
limb assessment? This study aimed at determining the practice of foot assessment of
diabetic patients and factors hindering it at the diabetic clinic in a Rural Tanzanian
hospital.
Methods: A hospital based descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in the diabetic
clinic of Shinyanga regional hospital. A patient knowledge assessment tool was developed
and used for exit survey, and a separate provider tool adopted from National Diabetic
association of Australia was also used on the last day of the study.
Results: A total of 268 patients were interviewed of whom 45% had poor knowledge on
footcare. Only one third of patients had their feet assessed in spite of good knowledge mean
score of health workers as regards diabetic footcare. Work overload was cited as the
hindrance factor.
Conclusion: Poor quality of diabetic care still exists even after efforts to establish special
clinics. A chronic care model should be developed and disseminated to all HCWs offering
care to diabetic patients
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© Copyright 2014 - East and Central African Journal of Surgery
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