Methods: Head nurses at all dialysis facilities in one prefecture were posted question sheets we prepared, which were later collected.
Results: Responses for these question sheets were obtained from 33 of the 40 facilities targeted. Foot care was carried out on all dialysis patients at 46% of the facilities. The implementation period was during dialysis for 76% of the facilities, while a foot care checklist was used at 70% of the facilities. The most common types of care were observation of the foot and walking (91%), provision of knowledge of foot diseases and assessment of lifestyle (65%), instruction for how to care for one’s own feet and the application of ointment (61%), cutting and filing toenails (52%), and foot baths (48%). Issues with the implementation of foot care included problems with ensuring enough time (86%), lack of knowledge and skills for foot care (73%), lack of a proper environment for foot care (50%), and the burden of recording in checklists, etc. (47%).
Conclusion: There is a high level of interest in foot care among dialysis nurses. In many facilities, a foot check chart is used alongside observation and care, but in terms of preventing foot lesions, there are issues with a lack of assessment and implementation of care, and in support for self-care. In order to prevent foot lesions in patients undergoing chronic dialysis, it is necessary to further enhance assessment and care, and it is very important to use a simple yet effective checklist to that end. Recording in checklists and so on needs to be improved to allow it to be done on a daily basis without it causing a burden.