Skills Training Course for Diabetic Foot Held in Mashhad University of Medical Sciences

A training workshop for nurses to protect diabetic foot was held in Mashhad University of Medical Sciences.

According to WebDa, thanks to the Deputy for Education of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences and Endocrine & Metabolism Research Institute of Tehran University of Medical Sciences this workshop was held for two days in Mashhad with the aim of providing theoretical specialized knowledge and the necessary clinical skills to evaluate a patient with diabetic foot and developing a care plan for this group of patients with an emphasis on group work and early reference to the related specialist.

In this two-day workshop, nurses became aware of theoretical knowledge, epidemiology of the diabetic foot and its treatment-care system, screening diabetic foot and identifying its types, methods to control and manage issues regarding diabetic foot in order to provide the best care, role of nurses in caring for diabetic foot and developing a care plan for the diabetic foot.

Screening methods of the diabetic foot and practically identifying its types, methods to control and manage the diabetic foot and their application in real life situations, and education-rehabilitation methods for diabetic foot and their application in real settings were presented in this course.

“During this course, target groups working in treatment teams of diabetic foot got familiar with the most recent prevention, care and treatment methods for diabetic foot”, said Dr. Mahnaz Sanjari-the executive director of the diabetes academy project of Endocrine & Metabolism Research Institute of Tehran University of Medical Sciences in the sideline of this workshop.

Pinpointing the importance of caring for diabetic foot, faculty member of Tehran University of Medical Sciences said: “so far thirteen training courses have been held in different provinces, and 400 doctors and nurses have acquired the necessary knowledge”.

Pointing to the change in the pattern of diseases from contingent to non-contingent and the increase in the number of people with diabetes, Dr. Sanjari said: “according to the plan, caring for the diabetic foot is going to be taught as an academic course in nursery and medical fields”.

She added: “besides, caring for diabetic foot curriculum for all medical departments is being devised so that volunteers learn the necessary specialized content and receive credible certificates from the Ministry of Health.

Emphasizing the crucial role of patients as the main members of the caring team in preventing from diabetic foot ulcer and taking care of it, the executive director of the diabetes academy project of Endocrine & Metabolism Research Institute of Tehran University of Medical Sciences said: “patients with diabetes should accept that this disease will accompany them until the end of their lives; this change in attitudes can help them better protect themselves”.

Dr. Sanjari added: “diabetes has long-term complications for eyes, kidneys and the heart and it can only be prevented by taking proper health care measures”.

Referring to the fact that diabetes symptoms are not clear and the symptoms polydipsia, polyuria, and polyphagia appear only when the person has got the diabetes, she said: “if someone is overweight and their siblings have diabetes, they should refer to a health care center”.