The Design Of A Psycho-Socioeconomic Biobehavioural Framework To Address Barriers To Adherence In Patients With Diabetes-Related Foot Ulceration

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic condition. Related comorbidities such as peripheral neuropathy and lower extremity ischaemia can significantly increase the likelihood of the occurrence of a diabetes-related foot ulcer (DFU). The International Working Group on the Diabetic Foot (IWGDF) updated its latest guidelines in 2023 to address diabetes-related foot care across the world and champion lower limb preservation. Further, with a podiatry workforce ‘in crisis’ in the United Kingdom and elsewhere, understanding the experiences of patients is important in establishing ways to provide and implement effective self-care regimes for patients in both private and public health practice. Therefore, psycho-socioeconomic bio-behavioural barriers (PSB) are important in forming holistic considerations of patient adherence. This conceptual framework allows for the proposal of tailored multi-disciplinary interventions, such as accessible educational programs, to address specific barriers to adherence with the objective of contributing to lower limb preservation.