Improving identification and management of the at-risk foot in diabetes
type: CreativeWork
description: Background: Diabetes-related foot ulcers (DFUs) are one of the most common lower extremity complications of diabetes. The lifetime risk of a person developing a DFU is estimated to be as high as 34%. They are associated with increased risk of limb loss, increased hospitalisations and poorer quality of life. However, they are preventable through timely identification of risk factors, and referral to appropriate prevention services. It is internationally recommended that people with diabetes be offered annual diabetic foot screening to identify risk factors and allow for timely implementation of prevention strategies. However, evidence suggests diabetic foot screening is one of the least complied with elements of diabetes care internationally. This means many people who have risk factors are not being identified, not receiving appropriate care for risk factors and experiencing preventable DFUs and subsequent limb loss. Aim: To enhance understanding of how recommendations for identifying and managing individuals at-risk for DFUs are being implemented and how best to identify and manage those at risk. Methods: This thesis followed a convergent mixed methods study design, comprising five studies to answer four interrelated research objectives. Firstly, to achieve consensus on what terms should be used within clinical practice guidelines to describe identification of the at-risk foot, guidelines were assessed and people with lived experience of diabetes were consulted. Secondly, to examine what care people with diabetes are receiving and where and by whom their care is being delivered, using Ireland as a case study, two separate studies examined healthcare professionals’ and people with diabetes’ experiences of preventative diabetic foot care in Ireland. An online cross-sectional survey of podiatrists examined podiatrists experiences of providing integrated diabetic foot care. A qualitative study involving semi-structured interviews with general practitioners, practice nu…
abstract: Background: Diabetes-related foot ulcers (DFUs) are one of the most common lower extremity complications of diabetes. The lifetime risk of a person developing a DFU is estimated to be as high as 34%. They are associated with increased risk of limb loss, increased hospitalisations and poorer quality of life. However, they are preventable through timely identification of risk factors, and referral to appropriate prevention services. It is internationally recommended that people with diabetes be offered annual diabetic foot screening to identify risk factors and allow for timely implementation of prevention strategies. However, evidence suggests diabetic foot screening is one of the least complied with elements of diabetes care internationally. This means many people who have risk factors are not being identified, not receiving appropriate care for risk factors and experiencing preventable DFUs and subsequent limb loss. Aim: To enhance understanding of how recommendations for identifying and managing individuals at-risk for DFUs are being implemented and how best to identify and manage those at risk. Methods: This thesis followed a convergent mixed methods study design, comprising five studies to answer four interrelated research objectives. Firstly, to achieve consensus on what terms should be used within clinical practice guidelines to describe identification of the at-risk foot, guidelines were assessed and people with lived experience of diabetes were consulted. Secondly, to examine what care people with diabetes are receiving and where and by whom their care is being delivered, using Ireland as a case study, two separate studies examined healthcare professionals’ and people with diabetes’ experiences of preventative diabetic foot care in Ireland. An online cross-sectional survey of podiatrists examined podiatrists experiences of providing integrated diabetic foot care. A qualitative study involving semi-structured interviews with general practitioners, practice nu…
author: Pallin, Jennifer Ann
language: en
keywords: Diabetes, Diabetic foot, Screening, Prevention
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
date published: 2024
date modified: 2026-07-24T01:46:55Z
provider: University College Cork
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University College Cork

PropertyValue
property ID: Handle
value: https://hdl.handle.net/10468/17516