The role of the nurse in the prevention and management of diabetes-related foot disease in the home care setting: a scoping review protocol

Objective: The objective of this scoping review is to review and map the role of the nurse in the prevention and management of diabetes-related foot disease in the home care setting, as presented in the literature. Introduction: Patients with diabetes mellitus at risk for or having a foot ulcer have substantial needs for nursing interventions. Nurses are responsible for the planning and evaluation of the care provided in accordance with the nursing process and they perform many of these nursing activities in collaboration with other health care professionals. As part of a well-functioning process, teamwork is crucial for high quality care. Nurses play a central role in that team. The protracted time to healing for diabetic foot ulcers necessitates lengthy relationships between the patient and nurses. Nurses perform regular dressing changes, help with medication, injections and other needs for assisted self-care in homecare settings. Nurses can also foresee and manage risk factors for ulceration on the feet, such as footwear, factors that can cause trauma to the feet, preventing fall injuries. No compilation of studies regarding nursing activities performed in home care settings for patients with diabetic foot disease has been made, although there have been studies from home care settings. Inclusion criteria: Registered nurses working with people with diabetes-related foot disease in home care. Methods: A search will be conducted through three databases, Cinahl, LILACS and PubMed, using various keyword combinations focused on ‘the diabetic foot’ and ‘home care’. The search will be carried out in 2026 and updated before publication. No limitations will be applied to language and a 20-year limit on publication date will be enforced.