KNOWLEDGE OF DIABETIC FOOT ULCER MANAGEMENT AMONG NURSES: EVIDENCE FROM LAHORE GENERAL HOSPITAL, LAHORE, PAKISTAN

Abstract

Background: Diabetic Foot Ulcers (DFUs) are a common and severe complication of diabetes. Nurses play a pivotal role in DFU management; however, their knowledge often remains inadequate. Assessing their knowledge is essential to identify gaps and improve quality of care. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Gangaram Hospital and Mayo Hospital, Lahore, from August 2024 to November 2024. A structured questionnaire on DFU management was administered to 240 nurses. Knowledge levels were categorized into Level 1 (>50% correct answers) and Level 2 (≤50%). Results: Among 240 nurses surveyed, only 31.3% had received formal wound care training, and more than half (56.3%) had less than five years of wound care experience. Nurses who had undergone training achieved significantly higher knowledge scores (p ≤ 0.001) compared to untrained nurses, while workplace and experience showed no significant association with knowledge level. Conclusion: Structured training programs are essential to enhance nurses’ knowledge and competency in diabetic foot ulcer management.