The effectiveness of weekly use of foot selfcare checklist in preventing foot ulcers in patients with type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Abstract

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of weekly use of a foot self-care checklist in preventing diabetic foot ulcers in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Study Design: Quasi-experimental study. Setting: Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar. Period: 12 April 2025 to 12 October 2025. Method: 140 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, divided equally into an intervention group and a control group. Both groups received standard diabetic care, while the intervention group additionally used a foot self-care checklist weekly. Patients were followed for three months. Effectiveness was defined as the absence of foot ulcer development, assessed clinically. Results: Out of 140 participants, 109 (77.9%) did not develop a diabetic foot ulcer, whereas 31 (22.1%) developed an ulcer. The incidence of ulcer formation was significantly lower in the intervention group compared with the control group (14.3% vs 30.0%, p = 0.025). No significant associations were found between ulcer development and gender, diabetes treatment modality, glycaemic control, education status, residence, prior knowledge of foot self-care, comorbidities, age, or duration of diabetes (all p > 0.05). Conclusion: Weekly use of a foot self-care checklist significantly reduces the incidence of diabetic foot ulcers in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and should be incorporated into routine diabetic management.