ASSESSING THE KNOWLEDGE, PRACTICES, AND CHALLENGES FACED BY NURSES IN THE EARLY DETECTION AND PREVENTION OF DIABETIC FOOT ULCER COMPLICATIONS A DESCRIPTIVE CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Diabetic foot complications are one of the frequent and serious diabetogenic outcomes that result from diabetes mellitus and that can cause such consequences as amputation, infection, and other dangerously hazardous conditions. Diabetic foot complications are foreseen-through knowledge, practices, and interventions by the nurses in the early stage. The purpose of this research is to determine the awareness, practice and challenges that faces nurses in early identification, prevention and management of diabetic foot complications. The information was gathered through administering structured questionnaires for the nurses in the diabetic clinics, general wards, along with wound care units. With the results of the study it is realized that although the Kenyan nurses have a minimum understanding about diabetic foot care there are some barriers including; inadequate education, time and resources that limit the adoption of proper preventive measures among diabetic patients. This also points to the need for proper training and political support to improve the nurse’s capacity to prevent further complications to diabetes in the foot. This pertains to the need for enhancing educational interventions and materials for nursing care for patients with diabetes particularly in diabetes-related foot complications; including what can be done generally for purposes of enhancing better patient outcomes in terms of minimizing cases of amputation and severe complications among patients with diabetes.