Experiences and impact of a rural Australian high‐risk foot service: A multiple‐methods study
Abstract Objective Most podiatry‐led high‐risk foot services (HRFS) in Australia are located in metropolitan areas or large regional centres. In rural areas, where there are limited specialist services, individuals with diabetes‐related foot ulceration are more likely to undergo amputation. This stu...
Published in: | Australian Journal of Rural Health |
---|---|
Main Authors: | , , , , |
Other Authors: | |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Wiley
2024
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/ajr.13087 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/ajr.13087 |
id |
crwiley:10.1111/ajr.13087 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
crwiley:10.1111/ajr.13087 2024-06-23T07:52:52+00:00 Experiences and impact of a rural Australian high‐risk foot service: A multiple‐methods study Tehan, Peta Ellen Donnelly, Hailey Martin, Emma Peterson, Benjamin Hawke, Fiona Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle Australia 2024 http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/ajr.13087 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/ajr.13087 en eng Wiley http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Australian Journal of Rural Health volume 32, issue 2, page 286-298 ISSN 1038-5282 1440-1584 journal-article 2024 crwiley https://doi.org/10.1111/ajr.13087 2024-05-31T08:15:46Z Abstract Objective Most podiatry‐led high‐risk foot services (HRFS) in Australia are located in metropolitan areas or large regional centres. In rural areas, where there are limited specialist services, individuals with diabetes‐related foot ulceration are more likely to undergo amputation. This study aimed to explore clinicians' perceptions of a recently implemented HRFS in rural New South Wales, Australia, and compare trends of amputation and hospitalisation prior to and post‐implementation of the service. Setting Rural HRFS in Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia. Participants Health professionals working within the HRFS were recruited to participate. Design This was a multiple‐methods study. For the qualitative arm, semi‐structured interviews were conducted, which were analysed using a reflexive thematic approach. The quantitative arm of the study utilised a retrospective analytic design which applied an interrupted time series to compare amputation and hospitalisation trends pre‐ and post‐implementation of the HRFS utilising diagnostic and procedural ICD codes. Results The qualitative arm of the study derived three themes: (1) navigating the divide, (2) rural community and rural challenges and (3) professional identity. Results of the interrupted time series indicate that there was a downward trend in major amputations following implementation of the HRFS; however, this was not statistically significant. Conclusion Clinicians were aware of the inequity in DFD outcomes between rural and metropolitan areas and were committed to improving outcomes, particularly with respect to First Nations peoples. Future research will explore service use and amputation rates in the longer term to further evaluate this specialised multidisciplinary care in a rural community. Article in Journal/Newspaper First Nations Wiley Online Library Australian Journal of Rural Health 32 2 286 298 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Wiley Online Library |
op_collection_id |
crwiley |
language |
English |
description |
Abstract Objective Most podiatry‐led high‐risk foot services (HRFS) in Australia are located in metropolitan areas or large regional centres. In rural areas, where there are limited specialist services, individuals with diabetes‐related foot ulceration are more likely to undergo amputation. This study aimed to explore clinicians' perceptions of a recently implemented HRFS in rural New South Wales, Australia, and compare trends of amputation and hospitalisation prior to and post‐implementation of the service. Setting Rural HRFS in Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia. Participants Health professionals working within the HRFS were recruited to participate. Design This was a multiple‐methods study. For the qualitative arm, semi‐structured interviews were conducted, which were analysed using a reflexive thematic approach. The quantitative arm of the study utilised a retrospective analytic design which applied an interrupted time series to compare amputation and hospitalisation trends pre‐ and post‐implementation of the HRFS utilising diagnostic and procedural ICD codes. Results The qualitative arm of the study derived three themes: (1) navigating the divide, (2) rural community and rural challenges and (3) professional identity. Results of the interrupted time series indicate that there was a downward trend in major amputations following implementation of the HRFS; however, this was not statistically significant. Conclusion Clinicians were aware of the inequity in DFD outcomes between rural and metropolitan areas and were committed to improving outcomes, particularly with respect to First Nations peoples. Future research will explore service use and amputation rates in the longer term to further evaluate this specialised multidisciplinary care in a rural community. |
author2 |
Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle Australia |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Tehan, Peta Ellen Donnelly, Hailey Martin, Emma Peterson, Benjamin Hawke, Fiona |
spellingShingle |
Tehan, Peta Ellen Donnelly, Hailey Martin, Emma Peterson, Benjamin Hawke, Fiona Experiences and impact of a rural Australian high‐risk foot service: A multiple‐methods study |
author_facet |
Tehan, Peta Ellen Donnelly, Hailey Martin, Emma Peterson, Benjamin Hawke, Fiona |
author_sort |
Tehan, Peta Ellen |
title |
Experiences and impact of a rural Australian high‐risk foot service: A multiple‐methods study |
title_short |
Experiences and impact of a rural Australian high‐risk foot service: A multiple‐methods study |
title_full |
Experiences and impact of a rural Australian high‐risk foot service: A multiple‐methods study |
title_fullStr |
Experiences and impact of a rural Australian high‐risk foot service: A multiple‐methods study |
title_full_unstemmed |
Experiences and impact of a rural Australian high‐risk foot service: A multiple‐methods study |
title_sort |
experiences and impact of a rural australian high‐risk foot service: a multiple‐methods study |
publisher |
Wiley |
publishDate |
2024 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/ajr.13087 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/ajr.13087 |
genre |
First Nations |
genre_facet |
First Nations |
op_source |
Australian Journal of Rural Health volume 32, issue 2, page 286-298 ISSN 1038-5282 1440-1584 |
op_rights |
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1111/ajr.13087 |
container_title |
Australian Journal of Rural Health |
container_volume |
32 |
container_issue |
2 |
container_start_page |
286 |
op_container_end_page |
298 |
_version_ |
1802644276642840576 |