Foot problems, footwear habits and indoor footwear design preferences of the diabetic population in Thailand

抄録

The purpose of this study was to collect information on foot problems, current footwear use, and indoor footwear design preferences in patients with diabetes mellitus in Thailand. This descriptive study obtained data from 539 patients with type 2 diabetes who had moderate to high risk of developing foot ulcers. A self-reported survey covering patient characteristics, foot problems, current footwear use, and preferred indoor footwear designs was conducted. The qualitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Variables related to footwear design were evaluated by Spearman's rank correlation. The results showed that 55.8% (n = 301) of respondents had been diagnosed as type 2 diabetes more than 10 years. Foot complications such as numbness, calluses, and ulcers were reported by 20%–65% of respondents. Nearly half the respondents (n = 252, 46.8%) walked barefoot, 38.5% (n = 207) wore slippers or flip-flops, and 5.4% (n = 29) wore clog shoes inside the house. Slippers or flip-flops (n = 230, 42.7%), closed shoes (n = 135, 25.2%), and clog shoes (n = 99, 18.4%) were the most commonly worn outdoor footwear. The most preferred indoor footwear design preferences were easy to wear (i.e., slip-on type) (n = 424, 78.8%), breathability (n = 282, 53.7%), and a flexible upper material (n = 167, 31.8%). However, only weak correlation between the characteristics of respondents and their indoor footwear design preferences was found. These findings suggest that a large proportion of patients with type 2 diabetes walk barefoot at home most of the time, which can lead to foot ulcers. Health care professionals should emphasize the benefits of using indoor footwear and avoiding walking barefoot whenever possible. Affordable and acceptable footwear that accommodates personal preferences should be designed for patients with diabetes, particularly for indoor activities.