Accuracy of the defining characteristics of the nursing diagnosis ineffective peripheral tissue perfusion in patients with diabetic foot

Objective To evaluate the accuracy of the defining characteristics of the nursing diagnosis ineffective peripheral tissue perfusion in patients with diabetic foot. Method A diagnostic accuracy study with a cross‐sectional design was carried out with patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus on outpatient diabetic foot treatment. We evaluated 134 patients with diabetic foot to determine the accuracy of the defining characteristics of ineffective peripheral tissue perfusion. A latent class model with random effects was used to establish the sensitivity and specificity of the defining characteristics assessed. Results Ineffective peripheral tissue perfusion was present in 83.79% of the patients. The defining characteristics color does not return to lowered limb after 1‐minute leg elevation and edema had high sensitivity (0.8370 and 0.7213) and specificity (0.9991 and 0.9995). Conclusion The defining characteristics color does not return to lowered limb after 1‐minute leg elevation and edema are good clinical indicators that can be used for screening and confirming ineffective peripheral tissue perfusion in patients with diabetic foot.