Patient education for the prevention of diabetic foot ulcers: Government Medical College, Suryapet

Open Access

Abstract

Background: This study was designed to explore whether participant-driven patient education in group sessions, compared to the provision of standard information, will contribute to a statistically significant reduction in new ulceration during 20 months in patients with diabetes and high risk of ulceration. Methods and Material: This is a six-month interim assessment. The CONSORT guidelines were used to construct a randomized controlled trial. Age 34–78 years old, diabetes mellitus, sensory neuropathy, and a healed foot ulcer below the ankle were the inclusion criteria; 526 individuals (both male and female) were screened in order. Results: The research involved a total of 125 patients. Because of concerns regarding the patients' capacity to complete the trial according to protocol, an interim analysis of 85 participants was conducted after six months. After six months, 44.70 percent of the participants had acquired a new foot ulcer, with no statistical difference between the two groups. The number of patients was insufficient to draw any statistical conclusions about the intervention's effectiveness. Plantar stress ulcers and external trauma were the most common causes of ulcer formation.Conclusions: It was concluded that patients with diabetes and a healed foot ulcer develop foot ulcers despite participant-driven group education as this high-risk patient group has external risk factors that are beyond this form of education. The educational method should be evaluated in patients with a lower risk of ulceration.