Evaluating the impact of acetic acid soaks on diabetic foot ulcer healing using the Bates-Jensen Wound Assessment Scale: A quasi-experimental study

Vollständiger Abstract

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Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of acetic acid soaks in promoting wound healing among hospitalized patients with diabetes mellitus suffering from diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs), using the Bates-Jensen Wound Assessment Scale (BWAS) as a standardized measure. Materials and Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted at a diabetes specialty hospital in India, with 40 patients diagnosed with DFUs, selected through non-probability purposive sampling. Participants were randomly assigned into two equal groups: The experimental group ( n = 20) received daily acetic acid soaks along with standard wound care, while the control group ( n = 20) received only standard care. The intervention was administered daily for 14 days, and wound healing progress was assessed using the BWAS. Results: The experimental group showed significant improvement in wound healing, with Bates-Jensen scores reducing from 41.05 ± 4.77 to 24.6 ± 12.87 ( t = 17.69, P < 0.001), while no significant change was observed in the control group ( t = 0.73, P = 0.94). Post-intervention comparison confirmed a significant difference between groups ( t = 3.42, P = 0.002), indicating effective ulcer healing with acetic acid soaks. Conclusion: Acetic acid soaks are a simple, safe, and cost-effective adjunct to standard DFU management.