Abstract
The number of diabetes patients is increasing worldwide, and these patients often develop foot problem. The need for diabetic foot care awareness was recognized at our institution. And precautionary management fee for diabetic complications was induced in April 2008. From December 2009, we started administering foot care to hospitalized diabetes patients and have been promoting education and motivation for foot care, along the provision of coordinated nursing care in ward and ambulatory settings. In a period of 1 year, 23 patients were cared for under this initiative, and some patients with diabetic foot ulcer were treated and cured. However, we found that the following areas under coordinated activities needed to be addressed: (1) improvement in the ability of the medical staff to evaluate patient condition and provide appropriate care, (2) nursing occupational adjustment for the promotion of foot care, (3) reinforcement of recognition of the need for foot care among doctors, (4) implementation of a protocol for activities between the ward and ambulatory care setting, and (5) better coordination between medical and prosthetic specialties.
