Diabetic foot ulcer wound dressing exploration Version Number: 1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An exploration of the use of wound dressings among healthcare professionals and patients with diabetic foot ulcers
IRAS ID
332634
Contact name
Daniel Baddeley-White
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Medway NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Patients living with diabetes are at risk of developing complications, including diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) which significantly affect health. DFUs are slow healing wounds usually located on the bottom of the foot. These wounds easily get infected and may lead to hospitalization, limb amputation and/or death. It is estimated that 24,000 hospital admissions occur annually in the UK because of DFU.
Wound dressings provide a protective barrier against infection and promote wound healing, but are often poorly tolerated by patients, and complex for healthcare professionals to use. This research seeks to examine the barriers to the use of wound dressings in DFUs and to reducing pressure around the at risk areas of the feet, and limitations/efficacy of currently used wound dressings as perceived by patients with DFUs and health care professionals. The research will answer the following questions:
1. What are the perceptions of health care professionals and patients with DFUs on how we should reduce the pressure on the at-risk areas of the feet?
2. What are the experiences of healthcare professionals and patients with DFUs in relation to current wound dressings?
3. What are the perceptions of healthcare professionals and patients with DFUs on the efficacy of current wound dressings in the treatment and prevention of DFU complications (consistent infections, amputation, and mortality)?
This is a mixed-methods study involving data collection via 1) Interviews with patients and healthcare professionals, 2) Validation of newly-developed survey via pilot study and 3) National Survey of patients and healthcare professionals. The survey to be undertaken by the participants will be dependent on the qualitative (Interview) study. Therefore, survey questions cannot be provided at this stage.
In addition, demographic data will be collected from all participants at recruitment.REC name
East of England - Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/EE/0281
Date of REC Opinion
19 Dec 2023
REC opinion
Unfavourable Opinion