Open AccessAre Australian podiatrists meeting best practice in the management of diabetic foot complications?
Author(s) -
Quinton Tom R,
Lazzarini Peter A,
Boyle Frances M,
Russell Anthony W,
Armstrong David G
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of foot and ankle research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.763
H-Index - 39
ISSN - 1757-1146
DOI - 10.1186/1757-1146-8-s2-o33
Subject(s) - podiatrist , podiatry , medicine , foot (prosody) , diabetic foot , best practice , amputation , diabetes mellitus , physical therapy , rehabilitation , health professionals , family medicine , diabetes management , alternative medicine , health care , surgery , type 2 diabetes , management , pathology , complication , linguistics , philosophy , economics , endocrinology , economic growth
Background Diabetic foot complications are the leading cause of lower extremity amputation and diabetes-related hospitalisation in Australia. Studies demonstrate significant reductions in amputations and hospitalisation when health professionals implement best practice management. Whilst other nations have surveyed health professionals on specific diabetic foot management, to the best of the authors' knowledge this appears not to have occurred in Australia. The primary aim of this study was to examine Australian podiatrists' diabetic foot management compared with best practice recommendations by the Australian National Health Medical Research Council.