- Title
- Yarning about foot care: evaluation of a foot care service for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
- Creator
- West, Matthew; Sadler, Sean; Charles, James; Hawke, Fiona; Lanting, Sean; Munteanu, Shannon E.; Chuter, Vivienne
- Relation
- Journal of Foot and Ankle Research Vol. 15, no. 25
- Publisher Link
- http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13047-022-00524-9
- Publisher
- BioMed Central (BMC)
- Resource Type
- journal article
- Date
- 2022
- Description
- Background: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples have high rates of diabetes-related foot disease including foot ulcer and amputation. There has been limited evaluation of foot care services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. This project aimed to evaluate an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander foot care service (the Buridja Clinic) for prevention and management of diabetes-related foot disease embedded in a university podiatry program from a Community perspective using culturally appropriate methods. Methods: This mixed-methods study took place from March 2018 to April 2021 in the Buridja Clinic on the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia, and included an audit of occasions of service (March 2018 to March 2020), and review of the Buridja Clinic via research yarns with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients of the clinic and a written 10-item customised clinic feedback survey. Research yarns were transcribed and analysed thematically. Descriptive analysis of quantitative occasions of use and survey data was undertaken, with the open-ended survey responses thematically analysed. Results: Total occasions of service across the review period was 548, with a total of 199 individual clients treated. Most common service types were general treatments (nail and skin care) and diabetes assessments. Nine participants who attended the Buridja Clinic were recruited to the two research yarns. An additional 52 participants who attended the clinic completed the customised clinic feedback survey. Specific clinic design elements, including yarning circles and group booking as well as student placement, were identified as strengths of the clinic. Participants reported difficulty with transport and restricted opening hours and encouraged increased Community engagement by clinic staff. Conclusion: Evaluation of a foot care service for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples embedded in a university-based podiatry program demonstrated that the incorporation of specific service design elements, including yarning circles and group appointments as well as student placements, encouraged ongoing Community engagement with the service. Participants reported improved foot health, greater foot and self-care knowledge, and overall better general health and management as a result of attendance to the clinic. Consideration needs to be given to addressing limited access to transport and flexible operating hours when establishing similar services.
- Subject
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples; diabetes; foot disease; podiatry program; SDG 3; SDG 16; Sustainable Development Goals
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/1490824
- Identifier
- uon:52997
- Identifier
- ISSN:1757-1146
- Rights
- x
- Language
- eng
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