title: Effective management of patients with diabetes foot ulcers: outcomes of an Interprofessional Diabetes Foot Ulcer Team.
abstract: A longitudinal observational study on a convenience sample was conducted between 4 January and 31 December of 2010 to evaluate clinical outcomes that occur when a new Interprofessional Diabetes Foot Ulcer Team (IPDFUT) helps in the management of diabetes-related foot ulcers (DFUs) in patients living in a small urban community in Ontario, Canada. Eighty-three patients presented to the IPDFUT with 114 DFUs of average duration of 19·5 ± 2·7 weeks. Patients were 58·4 ± 1·4 years of age and 90% had type 2 diabetes, HbA1c of 8·3 ± 2·0%, with an average diabetes duration of 22·3 ± 3·4 years; in 69% of patients, 78 DFUs healed in an average duration of 7·4 ± 0·7 weeks, requiring an average of 3·8 clinic visits. Amputation of a toe led to healing in three patients (4%) and one patient required a below-knee amputation. Six patients died and three withdrew. Adding a skilled IPDFUT that is trained to work together resulted in improved healing outcomes. The rate of healing, proportion of wounds closed and complication rate were similar if not better than the results published previously in Canada and around the world. The IPDFUT appears to be a successful model of care and could be used as a template to provide effective community care to the patients with DFU in Ontario, Canada.
authors.affiliation: School of Physical Therapy, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.|Centre of Wound Management, Royal District Nursing Service Institute, St Kilda, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Rajna
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ogrin
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Pamela E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Houghton
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: G William
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D019468:Disease Management; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D064887:Observational Studies as Topic; D009864:Ontario; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration*; D018802:Patient-Centered Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing
keywords: Diabetes-related foot ulcer; Healing; Interprofessional care; Patient-centred care; Quality of life