If the Shoe Fits: Patient-centred Podiatry Enablement
Research type
Research Study
Full title
If the Shoe Fits: Enabling Patient-centred Podiatry through Social Science Methodology
IRAS ID
177040
Contact name
Victoria Robinson
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 3 months, 31 days
Research summary
Previous Economic and Social Research Council funded research showed the centrality of footwear to individuals' sense of their identity, demonstrating that shoes must 'fit' someone socially, as well as functionally. If not, unhealthy shoes will be purchased, NHS-prescribed footwear discarded and podiatrist advice rejected. This new project adapts the qualitative social science methods devised, tested and refined during the previous Economic and Social Research Council funded research, to enable podiatrists to understand the broader contribution of footwear to patients' sense of themselves. Semi-structured interviews and focus groups with both patients and practitioners will be used to explore tensions between patient and practitioner values and priorities and examine how dialogue between the two might be improved to empower patients to be supported to make healthier footwear choices whilst their wishes, preferences and feelings are respected. The output will be a training toolkit, also available online, which will inform the training and professional practice of podiatrists.
REC name
North West - Liverpool Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/NW/0293
Date of REC Opinion
25 Mar 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion