Original Research
Improving diabetic foot screening at a primary care clinic: A quality improvement project
Submitted: 27 July 2015 | Published: 31 August 2016
About the author(s)
Michelle L. Allen, Division of Family Medicine and Primary Care, Stellenbosch UniversityAlbertine M.B. van der Does, Division of Family Medicine and Primary Care, Stellenbosch University and Swartland Hospital, Malmesbury, South Africa
Colette Gunst, Division of Family Medicine and Primary Care, Stellenbosch University and Cape Winelands District, Western Cape Government Health
Abstract
Aim: This project was aimed at educating health care workers (HCWs) in a primary health care clinic to increase diabetic foot screening practices.
Setting: A primary health care clinic in the Western Cape province of South Africa
Methods: A quality improvement project was conducted. HCWs’ needs were assessed using a questionnaire. This was followed by focus group discussions with the HCWs, which were recorded, transcribed and assessed using a general inductive approach. An intervention was designed based on common themes. Staff members were trained on foot screening and patient information pamphlets and screening tools were made available to all clinic staff. Thirty-two consecutive diabetic patient folders were audited to compare screening in 2013 with that in 2014 after initiation of the quality improvement cycle.
Results: HCWs’ confidence in conducting foot screening using the diabetic foot assessment questionnaire improved markedly after training. Diabetic foot screening practices increased from 9% in 2013 to 69% in 2014 after the first quality improvement cycle. A strengths, opportunities, aspirations and results (SOAR) analysis showed promise for continuing quality improvement cycles.
Conclusion: The findings showed a significant improvement in the number of diabetic patients screened. Using strategic planning with appreciative intent based on SOAR, proved to be motivational and can be used in the planning of the next cycle.
Keywords
Metrics
Total abstract views: 7499Total article views: 7398
Crossref Citations
1. Foot Care among Diabetes Patients: A Concept Analysis
Parliani Parliani, Somporn Rungreangkulkij, Khanitta Nuntaboot
Nurse Media Journal of Nursing vol: 13 issue: 2 first page: 246 year: 2023
doi: 10.14710/nmjn.v13i2.50722
2. Needs assessment of diabetic foot services in Zimbabwe
Oppah Kuguyo, Joconiah Chirenda, Vasco Chikwasha, Doreen Macherera Mukona, Akimu Mageza, Lovemore Gwanzura, Alice Matimba
Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice vol: 188 first page: 109925 year: 2022
doi: 10.1016/j.diabres.2022.109925