Abstract
This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) among patients with diabetic foot ulcers toward disease management. This web-based cross-sectional study was conducted between April and December 2023 at the Zhangzhou Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University. Patients diagnosed with diabetic foot ulcers were invited to participate. A structured self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data on demographic characteristics, KAP related to diabetic foot ulcer management. A total of 508 valid responses were analyzed. Pearson's correlation analysis and path analysis were performed to explore the relationships among knowledge, attitudes, and practices. A self-designed questionnaire was designed to gather demographic information from patients with diabetic foot ulcers and to assess their KAP toward disease management. A total of 508 valid questionnaires were collected. Among the participants, 273 (53.74%) were male, 345 (67.91%) were elder than 60 years old, 393 (77.36%) resided in rural area and 470 (92.52%) reported not engaging in regular exercise. The mean knowledge, attitudes, and practices scores were 6.15 ± 1.54 (possible range: 0-11), 35.49 ± 2.87 (possible range:12-60), and 26.81 ± 2.60 (possible range: 10-50), respectively. The path analysis demonstrated that knowledge exerted a direct influence on attitudes (β = 0.751, P < 0.001) and practices (β = 0.380, P < 0.001), with an additional indirect effect on practices through attitudes (β = 0.332, P < 0.001). Furthermore, attitude demonstrated a direct impact on practices, as indicated by a path coefficient of 0.442 (P < 0.001). Patients with diabetic foot ulcers showed good knowledge and positive attitudes, yet specific deficiencies remain, highlighting the need for ongoing patient education and healthcare support.