The level of heel pain and footwear characteristics and the duration of its use among allied healthcare interns at Silliman University.

Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between heel pain and specific footwear characteristics, as well as the duration of footwear usage, among allied healthcare interns at Silliman University. Heel pain, a common condition exacerbated by prolonged standing and walking, is particularly prevalent in healthcare professionals and students. Despite existing literature suggesting footwear as a contributing factor, the relationship between footwear characteristics—heel height, sole thickness, and insole material—and heel pain, especially in healthcare interns, remains underexplored. This study contributes to the field of healthcare ergonomics by highlighting the complexity of heel pain etiology and emphasizing the need for a broader, holistic approach to preventing foot discomfort in healthcare settings. Methodology: A quantitative, non-experimental design with a correlational approach was employed, involving 70 interns from various allied health programs. Data were collected through a self-designed, validated questionnaire assessing the level of heel pain, footwear characteristics, and footwear usage duration. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests were used to analyze the data. Results: The level of heel pain among the 70 allied healthcare interns was assessed using a numerical pain rating scale, with the mean pain score calculated at 3.243, indicating a moderate level of discomfort. The majority of participants reported mild to moderate pain, highlighting the common nature of heel pain within this group. Footwear characteristics, including heel height, insole material, and sole thickness, were also evaluated. Most participants wore shoes with a medium heel height (81.43%), cushioned or flexible insoles (81.43%), and medium sole thickness (57.14%). These findings reflect a preference for footwear that may provide some comfort, though variability was observed in the types of insoles and sole thicknesses. The duration of footwear usage was examined, revealing that 58.57% of participants had been using their current footwear for more than four months. Despite the extended footwear usage, no significant relationship was found between heel pain and any of the footwear characteristics or the duration of footwear usage, based on Chi-square analysis. These results suggest that factors other than footwear characteristics and usage duration may be contributing to heel pain among the interns. Further research with a larger sample size may help clarify these relationships. The results revealed that the majority of participants experienced mild to moderate heel pain, with no significant relationship found between heel pain and the examined footwear characteristics or the duration of footwear use. Specifically, no significant associations were identified between heel height, insole material, sole thickness, and the level of heel pain, nor between the duration of footwear usage and heel pain. Discussions: These findings suggest that factors other than footwear characteristics may play a more prominent role in the development of heel pain among healthcare interns. The study highlights the complexity of heel pain etiology and calls for further research to explore additional factors, such as activity levels, posture, and ergonomic conditions, that may contribute to foot discomfort. The findings underscore the need for a more holistic approach to preventing heel pain, considering both footwear and other potential contributors to foot health among healthcare interns.