Podiatrists’ perceptions of diabetic foot care services in a Scottish NHS health board area

Aims/Objectives People with diabetes are at a significantly increased risk of foot ulceration, infection, and lower extremity amputation. The Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network1 (SIGN) published guidelines on the care and management of foot complications in patients with diabetes in 2010. Little data is available on the extent to which these guidelines have been implemented, or on the perceptions of podiatrists working to the guidelines in this sector. The aims of this study were to 1) elicit podiatrists’ perceptions of the diabetic foot care service provided in the health board area, 2) identify whether or not podiatrists perceived that national diabetic foot care guidelines are being met, and 3) identify any perceived barriers to optimal diabetic foot care.