AN ANALYSIS OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FOOT CARE BEHAVIOUR AND THE ANKLE-BRACHIAL INDEX IN PATIENTS WITH DIABETES MELLITUS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY AT THE DLANGGU COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTRE

Abstract

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease that can lead to vascular complications, including peripheral artery disease (PAD) and diabetic foot ulcers. One preventive measure is self-management of foot care, the effectiveness of which needs to be objectively assessed using the Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI) test a simple, non-invasive method for the early detection of the risk of vascular complications. This study aims to determine the relationship between foot care behaviour and ABI values in patients with diabetes mellitus at the Dlanggu Community Health Centre (UPTD Puskesmas Dlanggu). Method: The study design was a quantitative analytical cross-sectional study. A sample of 30 respondents was selected using total sampling. The instruments used were the Nottingham Assessment of Functional Foot Care (NAFF) questionnaire and a digital sphygmomanometer, with data analysed using Fisher’s Exact Test. Results: The findings showed that amongst respondents with poor foot care behaviour, 16 respondents (69.6 per cent) had normal ABI values and 7 respondents (30.4 per cent) had high ABI values. Meanwhile, amongst respondents with good foot care behaviour, 6 respondents (85.7%) had normal ABI values and 1 respondent (14.3%) had a low ABI value. Fisher’s Exact Test yielded a p-value of 0.096 (p > 0.05), which means there is no significant association between foot care behaviour and ABI values. Discussion: ABI values are thought to be more strongly influenced by other factors, such as age, duration of diabetes, and smoking habits, than by daily preventive foot care. Nevertheless, foot care remains important for preventing complications such as diabetic ulcers; it should therefore be integrated into diabetes education programmes in primary healthcare, alongside regular ABI checks for the early detection of PAD risk.