DPN Prios
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Priorities of Patients with Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy in NHS Services: A mixed-methods investigation involving screening, patient profiling, interviews, and focus groups
IRAS ID
339408
Contact name
David Hohenschurz-Schmidt
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Imperial College London
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
PB0912, Sponsor grant reference
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 8 months, 1 days
Research summary
Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a growing health concern, often leading to Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (DPN), a condition that causes numbness, tingling, pain, and instability, primarily in the feet and legs. In severe cases, DPN can result in foot wounds that don’t heal, sometimes leading to amputation. While advances in screening have reduced blindness from diabetic retinopathy, managing DPN remains challenging. Despite annual DPN checks, the disease is often detected too late - by the time patients reach diabetic foot clinics, they face high risks of wounds, amputations, and mobility issues. The pain and discomfort from DPN disrupt sleep, daily activities, and mental health, yet pain management is inconsistent, with limited access to specialised care. Promising early detection tools exist but are not widely used in the NHS. More research is needed to integrate these tools into routine care and prevent late-stage complications, as well as to address the challenges patients face at different stages of the disease.
This study will explore DPN patients’ experiences along the full course of DPN, from early symptoms to severe complications like foot ulcers and amputations. We will recruit patients from various diabetes-related NHS services, inviting those with a DPN diagnosis or possible symptoms to participate. Those with likely DPN will be interviewed to share their experiences and priorities in healthcare. Insights from these interviews will then be discussed in group sessions, allowing participants to refine findings and suggest solutions. To better understand symptoms, all participants will complete surveys on pain, mobility, treatments, and quality of life.
Findings will highlight gaps in NHS care and inform future research to improve services. People with lived experience of DPN have helped shape this study and will continue guiding the research team throughout.REC name
South Central - Oxford C Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/SC/0231
Date of REC Opinion
7 Aug 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion