The role of podiatry in the early identification and prevention of lower limb venous disease: an ethnographic study
Abstract Background Lower limb venous disease can cause significant pain, loss of mobility, and can be detrimental to an individual's quality of life. Manifestations of venous disease often pose a substantially negative impact on patients and place a high demand on finite healthcare resources....
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2022-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Foot and Ankle Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13047-022-00588-7 |
| _version_ | 1827356248238981120 |
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| author | Peter James Joseph Roberts Karen Ousey Caroline Barker Sarah Reel |
| author_facet | Peter James Joseph Roberts Karen Ousey Caroline Barker Sarah Reel |
| author_sort | Peter James Joseph Roberts |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Lower limb venous disease can cause significant pain, loss of mobility, and can be detrimental to an individual's quality of life. Manifestations of venous disease often pose a substantially negative impact on patients and place a high demand on finite healthcare resources. Whilst this problem is internationally recognised, most research and discourse has predominantly focussed on treatment of leg ulceration and prevention of recurrence. Prevention of lower limb venous disease progression to the first ulceration has received far less attention. Overall, the care of this condition appears to rest in the domain of medicine and nursing yet podiatry, a profession with responsibility for the lower limb and foot, is conspicuous by its absence from the literature. Methods An ethnographic approach was used to gather data from 26 participants through observation, semi‐structured interviews, and a focus group interview. Qualitative analysis was conducted using the framework approach. Results The findings revealed an identity crisis within the podiatry profession. Evidence emerged of ritual and routine practices that did not include lower limb venous disease. External control over practice limited the professional autonomy of podiatrists determining their own activities. Inter‐professional relationships with nursing, and perceptions of boundaries that venous disease was a nursing role were also found to be limiting factors. Conclusions This research revealed that podiatry does not occupy a substantive role in contributing to the early identification and prevention of lower limb venous disease. Policy, education, research and practice changes are all required to enhance the contribution of podiatry to reduce the burden of this disease. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T04:57:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f69bfcda4649418199bab2daee28d713 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1757-1146 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T04:57:01Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Foot and Ankle Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-f69bfcda4649418199bab2daee28d7132024-02-07T15:15:31ZengWileyJournal of Foot and Ankle Research1757-11462022-01-01151n/an/a10.1186/s13047-022-00588-7The role of podiatry in the early identification and prevention of lower limb venous disease: an ethnographic studyPeter James Joseph Roberts0Karen Ousey1Caroline Barker2Sarah Reel3The University of HuddersfieldQueensgateHD1 3DHHuddersfieldEnglandThe University of HuddersfieldQueensgateHD1 3DHHuddersfieldEnglandThe University of HuddersfieldQueensgateHD1 3DHHuddersfieldEnglandThe University of HuddersfieldQueensgateHD1 3DHHuddersfieldEnglandAbstract Background Lower limb venous disease can cause significant pain, loss of mobility, and can be detrimental to an individual's quality of life. Manifestations of venous disease often pose a substantially negative impact on patients and place a high demand on finite healthcare resources. Whilst this problem is internationally recognised, most research and discourse has predominantly focussed on treatment of leg ulceration and prevention of recurrence. Prevention of lower limb venous disease progression to the first ulceration has received far less attention. Overall, the care of this condition appears to rest in the domain of medicine and nursing yet podiatry, a profession with responsibility for the lower limb and foot, is conspicuous by its absence from the literature. Methods An ethnographic approach was used to gather data from 26 participants through observation, semi‐structured interviews, and a focus group interview. Qualitative analysis was conducted using the framework approach. Results The findings revealed an identity crisis within the podiatry profession. Evidence emerged of ritual and routine practices that did not include lower limb venous disease. External control over practice limited the professional autonomy of podiatrists determining their own activities. Inter‐professional relationships with nursing, and perceptions of boundaries that venous disease was a nursing role were also found to be limiting factors. Conclusions This research revealed that podiatry does not occupy a substantive role in contributing to the early identification and prevention of lower limb venous disease. Policy, education, research and practice changes are all required to enhance the contribution of podiatry to reduce the burden of this disease.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13047-022-00588-7PodiatryVenous insufficiencyVenous diseaseLower limb venous diseaseEarly identificationPrevention |
| spellingShingle | Peter James Joseph Roberts Karen Ousey Caroline Barker Sarah Reel The role of podiatry in the early identification and prevention of lower limb venous disease: an ethnographic study Journal of Foot and Ankle Research Podiatry Venous insufficiency Venous disease Lower limb venous disease Early identification Prevention |
| title | The role of podiatry in the early identification and prevention of lower limb venous disease: an ethnographic study |
| title_full | The role of podiatry in the early identification and prevention of lower limb venous disease: an ethnographic study |
| title_fullStr | The role of podiatry in the early identification and prevention of lower limb venous disease: an ethnographic study |
| title_full_unstemmed | The role of podiatry in the early identification and prevention of lower limb venous disease: an ethnographic study |
| title_short | The role of podiatry in the early identification and prevention of lower limb venous disease: an ethnographic study |
| title_sort | role of podiatry in the early identification and prevention of lower limb venous disease an ethnographic study |
| topic | Podiatry Venous insufficiency Venous disease Lower limb venous disease Early identification Prevention |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13047-022-00588-7 |
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