Foot screening in a dialysis unit - A pilot educational project

Abstract

Background Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) appear to be more prone to foot ulceration, with risk increasing as the kidney disease progresses. Patients on dialysis, even without diabetes mellitus (DM), are at high risk, but awareness of this risk for non-diabetic patients is low. Aims and objectives A pilot foot screening program was established within one metropolitan Australian satellite dialysis unit. The key aims of the pilot were: 1) to identify factors necessary to sustain the program; 2) to determine the prevalence of risk factors for foot ulceration in patients on haemodialysis with and without DM; and 3) to provide real-life, individual professional education to podiatry s..