FCC FCC Patient Education & Self-Care 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When educating a patient about moisturizing their feet, which area should be avoided?
- Heels
- Ball of the foot
- Between the toes (Correct answer)
- Top of the foot
Correct answer: Between the toes
Applying moisturizer between the toes traps moisture in an already occluded space, promoting fungal growth and maceration.
Question 2: What instruction is most important for preventing athlete's foot recurrence?
- Share towels with family members
- Walk barefoot in communal showers
- Keep feet dry and change socks daily (Correct answer)
- Apply petroleum jelly between toes
Correct answer: Keep feet dry and change socks daily
Keeping feet dry and changing socks daily eliminates the moist environment that dermatophytes require to thrive, reducing recurrence risk.
Question 3: What is the recommended first-aid action for an intact blister on the foot?
- Puncture and drain it immediately
- Leave intact, protect with padding, and monitor (Correct answer)
- Apply tight compression to collapse it
- Soak in hot water to soften and burst it
Correct answer: Leave intact, protect with padding, and monitor
An intact blister roof serves as a natural biological dressing that protects the underlying tissue; breaking it prematurely increases infection risk.
Question 4: Which sign should prompt a diabetic patient to seek immediate professional foot care?
- Minor dryness on the heels
- Small blister from new shoes
- Redness, warmth, swelling, or a wound not healing within a few days (Correct answer)
- Slightly long toenails
Correct answer: Redness, warmth, swelling, or a wound not healing within a few days
Redness, warmth, swelling, or a non-healing wound in a diabetic patient indicates possible infection or ulceration requiring urgent professional intervention.
Question 5: What ergonomic advice should be given to patients who stand for prolonged periods at work?
- Wear flat unsupported shoes to rest the arch
- Stand on one leg alternately to shift pressure
- Use supportive footwear with cushioned insoles and take scheduled rest breaks (Correct answer)
- Walk barefoot to strengthen intrinsic foot muscles
Correct answer: Use supportive footwear with cushioned insoles and take scheduled rest breaks
Supportive footwear with cushioned insoles combined with periodic seated rest reduces cumulative mechanical load on foot structures during prolonged standing.
Question 6: What is the primary purpose of a total contact cast (TCC) in diabetic foot care?
- Immobilize the ankle following a fracture
- Offload plantar pressure from a diabetic foot ulcer to promote healing (Correct answer)
- Correct hallux valgus alignment
- Prevent deep vein thrombosis during bed rest
Correct answer: Offload plantar pressure from a diabetic foot ulcer to promote healing
Total contact casts redistribute plantar pressure across the entire foot surface, effectively offloading diabetic plantar ulcers and enabling healing.
FCC FCC Patient Education & Self-Care 2
When educating a patient about moisturizing their feet, which area should be avoided?