Multidisciplinary Approach to Improve Diabetic Foot Care: an Investigation of Clinical and Economic Outcomes.

Multidisciplinary Approach in Tertiary Teaching Settings to Improve Diabetic Foot Care: an Investigation of Clinical and Economic Outcomes

The study intervention was applying multidisciplinary approach consisting of an endocrinologist, a diabetes specialized nurse, and a clinical pharmacist to assess and improve diabetic foot care using a systematic screening, patients' risk categorization, therapy optimization, and tailored education.

This is a single-blinded Randomized Controlled trial (RCT) study involving diabetic patients with (T1DM) and (T2DM) attending endocrine/diabetes, as well as, diabetic foot specialized surgery clinics for routine follow-ups at Jordan University Hospital (JUH) between 17 July 2022 and 30 Dec 2022.

The study evaluated the impacts of multidisciplinary approach in improving diabetic foot care. The clinical pharmacist role was to assess disease control, and to identify patients' therapeutic and educational needs through well-structured three months follow-up interviews with patients and/or their family members.

Moreover, the study investigated the impacts of multidisciplinary approach on health-related Quality of Life (QoL) at baseline and at the end of the study. Economic outcomes were also investigated relating to hospitalizations, length of stay, and cost of treatments.

The control group received standard care by hospital staff.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Aged above 18 years old.
• Diabatic patients with T1DM and T2DM attending endocrine/diabetic and/or diabetic foot specialized surgery clinics for routine follow-ups at Jordan University Hospital (JUH).
• Diabetic patients with or without previous Diabetic Foot Ulcers (DFUs) and/or amputation.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients who were attending the clinics at the time of recruitment with active diabetic foot lesions and/or ulcers.
• Patients who were taking corticosteroid medications.
• Patients who were admitted to the hospital (inpatient admissions).
• Pregnant women attending gestational DM clinics.
• Patients with cognitive impairments and/or incapable to provide consent.