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Table 7 Mean scores for questions regarding practices according to profession

From: Foot care knowledge and practices among Japanese nurses and care workers in home care and adult service center: a cross- sectional study

N = 225

Item

Item content

Nurses (62)

Care workers (170)

p value

n

Mean

SD

n

Mean

SD

Skin Assessment 1

I (as care giver) check the clients’ feet every day.

59

3.1

1.0

158

2.7

1.1

0.007**

Skin Assessment 2

When I check each foot, the skin between the toes and on the heel is included.

59

3.1

1.1

158

2.5

1.1

0.000***

Skin Assessment 3

I check the clients’ shoes before they wear or take off their shoes.

58

2.0

0.8

156

2.1

0.9

0.631

Nail 1

When I clip the clients’ nails, they are clipped straight with a curve at the corners.

58

3.6

1.2

155

3.3

1.3

0.113

Nail 2

I always use the nipper when I cut the clients’ nails.

59

3.2

1.5

156

2.4

1.5

0.000***

Nail 3

When there is a slight ingrown nail, I know the method to reduce pain by taping and packing with cotton.

58

2.6

1.5

157

1.9

1.3

0.000***

Nail 4

I use a nail file or grinder to reduce the thickness of nails that require this treatment.

59

3.0

1.4

157

2.3

1.4

0.001***

Nail 5

Sterilizing method is the same within an institution after the use of a nipper.

59

2.7

1.4

155

3.1

1.5

0.070

Skin 1

After I wash the clients’ feet, the area between the toes is dried thoroughly.

59

3.7

1.3

156

3.0

1.3

0.000***

Skin 2

When heels are cleaned every day, they become cleaner.

57

3.5

1.2

154

3.5

1.2

0.952

Skin 3

Moisturizer is used on dry feet because dryness reduces the barrier function of skin.

59

4.2

1.0

158

3.9

1.2

0.140

Skin 4

I sometimes apply Vaseline or an ointment to the skin without first wiping away previous excess Vaseline or ointments.

58

2.9

1.4

158

2.5

1.4

0.078

Hygiene 1

It is beneficial to bathe in acidic bubble soap.

58

4.0

1.1

157

3.6

1.2

0.036*

Hygiene 2

Bathing opens the skin’s pores more effectively than showers; therefore, a bath is more effective in removing dirt.

58

4.0

1.2

156

3.9

1.1

0.842

Hygiene 3

I understand the purpose, method and awareness points for care of a foot bath.

59

3.7

0.9

157

2.8

1.1

0.000***

Movement and Toe Exercise 1

I provide advice to clients when they stand from a chair.

59

3.5

1.0

157

3.4

1.1

0.746

Movement and Toe Exercise 2

I always promote toe exercises to clients.

59

3.6

1.2

157

3.4

1.3

0.423

Movement and Toe Exercise 3

I encourage clients to stand when they have been sitting for more than 1 h.

57

3.2

1.2

158

3.0

1.2

0.303

Consultation 1

I have an opportunity to talk about foot care with other staff members.

59

2.7

1.4

158

2.2

1.1

0.005**

Consultation 2

I always consult with others regarding which doctor or specialist the client should visit.

59

3.2

1.3

158

2.2

1.2

0.000***

  1. SD standard deviation
  2. Mann–Whitney U *p < 0.05
  3. **p < 0.01
  4. *** p < 0.001
  5. Five answers: strongly relevant = 5, more relevant = 4, neutral = 3, less relevant = 2, not relevant = 1 (points)
  6. Among the 225 participants, 194 answered all of the questions