Foot care knowledge and practices amongst Maltese individuals with diabetes : trends and determinants

Abstract

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is one of the emergent global health emergencies of the 21st century. In 2019, The International Diabetes Federation estimated that 463 million people had DM and this number was predicted to reach 578 million by 2030, and 700 million by 2045. Between 2014 and 2016, the prevalence of individuals with Type 2 DM aged between 25 to 64 years in Malta was found to be 10.39% (95% CI: 9.47-11.38) (Cuschieri, Vassallo, Calleja, Pace, & Mamo, 2016). DM not only lessens the quality of life and life expectancy but also leads to several microvascular and macrovascular complications, including those affecting with the lower limb (LL). The burden of DM-associated complications worldwide is a chief healthcare problem. Patient self-management is crucial to effectively manage DM and prevent its complications, including those of the LL. Some of the risk factors can be minimised if individuals have satisfactory knowledge of foot-care and are able and motivated to transfer that knowledge into practice (Chiwanga & Njelekela, 2015). International studies have shown inequalities in foot-care knowledge and practices across the globe. Various potential determinants have been identified, with cultural issues being amongst those factors found to possible influence foot care. Although small scale studies on foot-care were conducted in Malta, these failed to effectively address determinants of foot-care knowledge and practice. Hence, this study was aimed to investigate the trends and determinants of foot-care knowledge and practice amongst individuals with Type 2 DM living in Malta.