Optimal organization of health care in diabetic foot disease: introduction to the Eurodiale study.
This article describes the rationale and protocol of a large data collection study in patients with new diabetic foot ulcers by the Eurodiale study group, a consortium of centers of expertise in the field of diabetic foot disease within Europe. This study is a multicenter, observational, prospective data collection study. Its main aim is to determine the major factors determining clinical outcome and outcome in terms of health-related quality of life and health care consumption. Between September 1, 2003, and October 1, 2004, in 14 European centers, all consecutive patients with diabetes and a new foot ulcer were included in the study and followed until the end point or for a maximum of 1 year. End points were healing of the foot, major amputation, or death. Data were collected on patient, foot, and ulcer characteristics and on diagnostic and management procedures. Furthermore, data were collected on health care organization, quality of life, and resource use. A total of 1232 patients were included in the study. Sixty-three percent of the patients were referred by their general practitioner or were self-referrals. Twenty-seven percent of the patients were admitted at the time of inclusion; 1088 patients were followed until the end point. "Optimal Organization of Health Care in Diabetic Foot Disease" is one of the first large multicenter studies in the field of diabetic foot disease on clinical presentation, clinical outcome, quality of life, resource utilization, and health care organization and their interrelationships. These data will provide us with new insights that enable us to improve care for these patients and guide the development of new studies in this area. The results of this study are the subject of a separate presentation.
Prompers
Leonne
L
Division of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Maastricht, Maastricht, the Netherlands. leonne.prompers@intmed.unimaas.nl
Huijberts
Maya
M
Apelqvist
Jan
J
Jude
Edward
E
Piaggesi
Alberto
A
Bakker
Karel
K
Edmonds
Michael
M
Holstein
Per
P
Jirkovska
Alexandra
A
Mauricio
Didac
D
Tennvall
Gunnel Ragnarson
GR
Reike
Heinrich
H
Spraul
Maximilian
M
Uccioli
Luigi
L
Urbancic
Vilma
V
Van Acker
Kristien
K
Van Baal
Jeff
J
Van Merode
Frits
F
Schaper
Nicolaas
N
D000368:Aged; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods; D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D011788:Quality of Life; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D016896:Treatment Outcome