title: Diabetic foot units in Spain: knowing the facts using a questionnaire.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To ascertain the number of diabetic foot units (DFUs) in Spain, the specialists working in them, and the population covered by them.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Spanish Group on the Diabetic Foot (SGDF) prepared and agreed a questionnaire based on the recommendations of the 2011 International Consensus on the Diabetic Foot (ICDF). From October to December 2012, the questionnaire was sent to members of three scientific societies formed by professionals involved in the care of patients with diabetes mellitus. Population coverage of the responding centers and DFUs was estimated using the 2012 population census.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy five questionnaires were received, 64 of them from general hospitals, which accounted for 13% of the general hospitals of the National Health System. It was calculated that they provided coverage to 43% of the population. Thirty four centers answered that they had a DFU. Specialized diabetic foot care was only provided to 25% of the population. The number of different professionals working at diabetic foot units was 6.3±2.7. Classification of DFUs based on their complexity was as follows: 5 basic units (14.7%), 20 intermediate units (58.8%), and 9 excellence units (26.5%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The number of DFUs reported in this study in Spain is low, and allow for foot care of only one out of every four patients with diabetes. Spanish health system needs to improve diabetic foot care by creating new DFUs and improving the existing ones.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Endocrinología y Nutrición, Hospital Universitario Príncipe de Asturias, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, España. Electronic address: joseantonio.rubio@salud.madrid.org.
authors.forename: José Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Rubio
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Pie Diabético, Departamento de Cirugía, Hospital La Paloma, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, España.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Aragón-Sánchez
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Pie Diabético, Clínica Universitaria de Podología, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: José L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Lázaro-Martínez
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Endocrinología y Nutrición, Hospital Universitario Carlos Haya, Málaga, España.
authors.forename: María Cruz
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Almaraz
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Endocrinología y Nutrición, Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Didac
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mauricio
authors.affiliation: Medicina de Familia y Comunitaria, Centro de Salud de Mansilla de las Mulas, León, España.
authors.forename: Juan B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Antolín Santos
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Endocrinología y Nutrición, Hospital Universitario Clínico de San Carlos, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: José Ángel
authors.initials: JÁ
authors.lastname: Díaz Pérez
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Endocrinología y Nutrición, Hospital General de Catalunya, Sant Cugat del Vallès, España.
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fabbi
authors.affiliation: Medicina de Familia y Comunitaria, Centro de Salud Las Fuentes Norte, Zaragoza, España.
authors.forename: María Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Lozano Del Hoyo
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Angiología y Cirugía Vascular, Hospital Universitario Cruces, Barakaldo, España.
authors.forename: María Pilar
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Vela
mesh_terms: D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D017719:Diabetic Foot; D004704:Endocrinology / Q000458:organization & administration; D004865:Equipment and Supplies, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006757:Hospital Units / Q000145:classification / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D006769:Hospitals, General / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008511:Medicine; D052756:Nutritional Sciences / Q000458:organization & administration; D010348:Patient Care Team; D012958:Societies, Scientific; D013030:Spain; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Clínica del pie diabético; Diabetic foot; Diabetic foot clinic; Diabetic foot unit; Equipo multidisciplinario de pie; Multidisciplinary foot team; Pie diabético; Unidad de pie diabético