title: An evaluation of community-based resources for management of diabetes-related foot disorders in an Australian population.
abstract: We aimed to evaluate service model configuration, service capacity and accessibility of diabetes-related footcare in an Australian community health setting. Eighty-eight community-based podiatry clinics were surveyed using the self-administered Footcare Provider Survey. Survey domains included communication, resources, service coordination and barriers to service provision. Sixty-nine from a possible 88 Victorian community podiatry clinics (78%) responded. Sixty-one (88%) provided ongoing care to individuals with diabetes-related foot disorders. Communication with vascular and orthopaedic specialists was reported to be readily available in 37% and 27% of cases respectively. Overall, communication with general practitioners was deemed readily available in 62% of cases. Just 39% of podiatrists statewide agreed overall resources were sufficient, with 26% agreeing staffing levels were adequate. Thirty-nine percent of community podiatrists used clinical care pathways, and onsite collaboration was deemed appropriate in just 30% of cases. Perceived barriers to provision of care included inadequate staffing and resources, lack of confidence from other health professionals in the podiatrists' ability to manage diabetes-related foot disorders, and lack of access to specialists.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, VIC, Australia. shan.bergin@mh.org.au
authors.forename: Shan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Bergin
authors.forename: Caroline A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Brand
authors.forename: Peter G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Colman
authors.forename: Don A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Campbell
mesh_terms: D003153:Community Health Services; D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000628:therapy*; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006295:Health Resources; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D014739:Victoria