Diabetic Foot Care and Screening Practices among Iranian Nursing Students: A Cross-Sectional Survey in Teaching Hospitals of Tabriz

Background: Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are a serious complication of diabetes that can lead to amputation and reduced quality of life. Nurses play a vital role in preventing and managing DFUs by educating, assessing, and caring for diabetic patients. Nursing students, as future health care providers, need to have adequate knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding diabetic foot care and screening. However, there is a lack of studies on these factors among nursing students in Iran. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in 2022. The sample consisted of 200 nursing students from the Tabriz Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery. Data were collected using a questionnaire that included demographic and occupational characteristics, a knowledge questionnaire, an attitude questionnaire, and a diabetic foot screening checklist. Data were analyzed using SPSS 22 software. Results: The results showed that approximately 55% of the students had relatively good knowledge, 49% had a positive attitude, and 7.5% had very good practices regarding diabetic foot care and screening. However, more than half of the students had poor knowledge or practice, and some of them considered diabetic foot care to be time-consuming. Conclusion: The findings of this study revealed that the nursing students had received previous education about diabetic foot care management, but their knowledge and practice were still inadequate. Their attitude was generally positive, but some barriers existed for translating it into clinical practice. These results suggest that there is a need to improve the curriculum and training methods for nursing students regarding diabetic foot care management and screening. This can enhance their competence and confidence in providing quality care to diabetic patients and preventing DFUs and amputations.