50 Recruitment to ‘MiFoot’: a complex intervention for people with type 2 diabetes-related foot ulcer disease (DFUD)

<h3>Background</h3> MiFoot is a multifactorial intervention developed for people with Type 2 Diabetes-related Foot Ulcer Disease. It is tailored for this group’s specific needs (including literacy and cardiovascular disease risk) and is being evaluated in a randomised controlled trial. <h3>Aim</h3> To deliver the MiFoot study. <h3>Methods</h3> Participants are recruited via a range of strategies; hospital-based outpatient foot clinics, community podiatry clinics, volunteer databases, community networks, social media, GP letters, flyers, posters placed at strategic clinics and pharmacies, with phone call follow-up and text message reminders. Different approaches, tailored to individual needs, are used to support equitable access to this study. A person-centred approach is used throughout the intervention. <h3>Results</h3> So far, almost 2,000 Patient Information Sheets (PIS) have been distributed across all sites, with over a thousand expressions of interest obtained. Forty-seven (47) participants have been recruited to the study with more awaiting baseline assessments. Twenty- four participants have so far been randomised to MiFoot, all have attended their individualised appointment and weekly sessions have been delivered to the first two cohorts of 7 participants; 12 completed. Positive feedback was obtained anecdotally. Cohort 3 has just commenced. <h3>Conclusion</h3> Active involvement of the direct care teams to identify eligible people, promote the study, reassure people are eligible, and signpost people to researchers have been crucial. Actively encouraging family support, building rapport, verbalising the PIS and checking understanding through questioning has been key. Recruiting from the local database of research-interested people has also been successful. Despite the slow start, the above has currently resulted in higher recruitment figures than expected and high retention. Recruitment and evaluation continues.