Using the 3-minute Diabetic Foot Examination to Create a Risk-Based Referral System for at Risk Geriatric Patients
- UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
- Beverly Ann Brown (Creator)
- Institution
- The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
- Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
- Advisor
- Crystal Epstein
Abstract: Background: The American Diabetic Association recommends that patients with diabetes have routine diabetic foot examinations to prevent diabetic foot conditions and amputations. The providers at the practice center were not performing routine diabetic foot examinations regularly. The providers were concerned with the increase in amputations and wanted to find a way to decrease amputations. Therefore, the 3-minute diabetic foot examination was chosen because of its brevity and ease of use. Purpose: To determine whether implementing the 3-minute diabetic foot examination and risk stratification tool decreases the number of diabetic foot complications leading to amputations. Methods: Providers received education on how to perform the 3-minute diabetic foot exam. The examination had three parts that each took one minute to complete: 1) patient’s history of foot complications and foot symptoms; 2) foot exam; and 3) patient education on how to manage daily foot care. Results: Using the 3-minute diabetic foot examination and risk stratification tool allowed us to make faster referrals to specialists. Implementation of the 3-minute foot examination reduced amputations. No amputations occurred within the six months of follow-up during post-implementation. Conclusion: Using the 3-minute foot examination and risk stratification tool was effective in decreasing foot amputations. We recommend that the practice center continue to examine diabetic feet using the 3-minute diabetic foot examination and risk stratification tool to prevent amputations in diabetic patients.
Using the 3-minute Diabetic Foot Examination to Create a Risk-Based Referral System for at Risk Geriatric Patients
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Created on 2/20/2023
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Additional Information
- Publication
- Dissertation
- Language: English
- Date: 2022
- Keywords
- Routine diabetic foot examinations, 3-minute diabetic foot examination, prevent amputations, risk stratification tool