Rheeder, PaulVenn, MarieDe Korte, EwaldVan Zyl, Danie G.2009-04-142009-04-142008-12Rheeder, P, Venn, M, De Korte, E & Van Zyl, D 2008, 'Knowledge of foot care in people with diabetes in a tertiary care setting', Journal of Endocrinology Metabolism and Diabetes of South Africa, vol. 13, no. 3, pp. 105-108. [http://www.hmpg.co.za/journaldetail.php?journalno=9]1608-9677http://hdl.handle.net/2263/9612BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to investigate levels of foot care knowledge among patients attending the diabetes clinic at Pretoria Academic Hospital by comparing the knowledge of patients with ‘at risk’ feet (ARF) to those with normal/not at risk’ feet (NARF) and so assess whether the education effort by the clinic is effective. METHODS: Patients attending the clinic completed an interviewer-assisted questionnaire with 11 questions concerning foot care knowledge. A knowledge score for each patient was calculated. RESULTS: Possible scores ranged from 4 to 11 (maximum 11). The mean score for the ARF group was 8.9 (standard deviation (SD) 1.4) (range 4 - 11) compared with 8.9 (SD 1.4) for the NARF group (range 5 - 11) (p>0.05). The most substantial difference between the two groups was that the ARF group gave 20% more correct answers than the NARF group with regard to frequency of foot inspection (daily) (p=0.025). CONCLUSIONS: Both groups of patients had a reasonable knowledge regarding foot care. The patients at risk were more aware of the need for daily foot inspection.enHealth and Medical Publishing GroupFoot careKnowledgeDiabetes patientsPatient educationRiskTertiary care settingPatient knowledgePretoria Academic HospitalQuestionnaireInterviewer-assisted questionnaireNon-risk patientsDiabetes complicationsFoot ulcersEducational outcomeDiabetes clinicFoot inspectionPatient responseCorrect answersReasonable knowledgeFoot screeningDiabeticsFoot -- UlcersPatient educationArticle