Abstract
The role of a podiatrist is to identify, diagnose and treat disorders, disease and deformities of the feet and lower limbs. The podiatrist not only provides timely symptomatic relief but is also responsible for ensuring additional care such as monitoring foot health status, providing health education and acting as gatekeepers to other members of a multidisciplinary team, ultimately leading to an improved quality of life for the patient (Rome et al, 2009:1, 5, 7).
The aim of this study was to measure foot health related quality of life of patients utilizing podiatric services at various health care facilities in Gauteng, South Africa. A prospective quantitative design had been selected for this study. The reason for a prospective design was that the information required was unlikely to be readily available or complete within the pre-existing historical patient care records. For this study, a two sectioned questionnaire had been used, and included a validated Foot Health Status Questionnaire that measured the foot health related quality of life (Bennett and Patterson, 1998:87), with a section that determined podiatric consultations, diagnoses, treatment and referral pathways.
Literature has highlighted that foot pain and poor foot function can have a detrimental effect on a patients’ quality of life, thereby a negative impact on foot health related quality of life. The results of this study have indicated that the foot health status of participants varied and many correlations were made regarding foot pain, foot function, general foot health, footwear and generic health. The results have also indicated that the majority of patients who consulted at the various Podiatry Departments within the public healthcare clinics in Gauteng have some level of foot pain and poor foot function. It appeared that new patients presented with a poorer general foot health than follow up patients. The most common diagnoses made at the various Podiatry Departments was dermatologically related and the most frequent treatment offered was routine podiatric care. The highest number of podiatric referrals made to Podiatry was by the various Endocrinology Departments. The majority of participants that had consulted with the Podiatrists were referred back to the Podiatry Departments for routine podiatric care.
No clinical audit has been done measuring foot health related quality of life of patients utilizing podiatric services at various health care facilities in Gauteng, South Africa. The absence of information and data justifying the need for and impact of podiatrists within the public sector makes it difficult to argue for the growth and expansion of the profession within the country.
M.Tech. (Podiatry)