Participant characteristics for each hospital site (number (%) unless otherwise stated)
| n | Total | Large regional | Major regional | Large Metro | Major Metro specialty | Major Metro. general | p Value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Participants | 733 | 733 | 21 | 82 | 90 | 232 | 308 | |
| Ward | ||||||||
| Medical | 733 | 459 (62.6%) | 16 (76.2%) | 49 (59.8%) | 57 (63.3%) | 171 (73.7%) | 166 (53.9%) | |
| Surgical | 733 | 274 (37.4%) | 5 (23.8%) | 33 (40.2%) | 33 (36.7%) | 61 (26.3%) | 142 (46.1%) | <0.001* |
| Demographics | ||||||||
| Age (SD) years | 731 | 62.0 (18.6) | 50.0 (18.0)* | 63.5 (19.1) | 63.2 (18.3) | 65.5 (18.3) | 59.5 (18.3)* | <0.001* |
| Age range years | 731 | 18–99 | 20–85 | 18–91 | 21–96 | 18–99 | 18–94 | |
| Age groups | 731 | |||||||
| 18–40 years | 110 (15.0%) | 6 (28.6%) | 12 (14.6%) | 12 (13.3%) | 28 (12.1%) | 52 (16.9%) | ||
| 41–60 years | 188 (25.7%) | 8 (38.1%) | 20 (24.4%) | 23 (25.6%) | 54 (23.4%) | 83 (27.0%) | ||
| 61–80 years | 316 (43.2%) | 6 (28.6%) | 36 (43.9%) | 37 (41.1%) | 94 (40.7%) | 143 (46.6%) | ||
| 81+ years | 117 (16.0%) | 1 (4.8%) | 14 (17.1%) | 18 (20.0%) | 55 (23.8%) | 29 (9.4%) | <0.001* | |
| Male sex | 731 | 408 (55.8%) | 13 (61.9%) | 52 (63.4%) | 46 (51.1%) | 127 (54.7%) | 170 (55.6%) | 0.531 |
| Social determinants | ||||||||
| Socioeconomic status | 711 | |||||||
| Most disadvantaged | 102 (14.3%) | 6 (28.6%) | 4 (5.1%) | 30 (34.1%) | 23 (10.2%) | 39 (13.1%) | ||
| Second most disadvantaged | 159 (22.4%) | 2 (9.5%) | 41 (51.9%) | 40 (45.5%) | 27 (11.9%) | 49 (16.5%) | ||
| Middle | 98 (13.8%) | 12 (57.1%) | 27 (34.2%) | 10 (11.4%) | 22 (9.7%) | 27 (9.1%) | ||
| Second least disadvantaged | 240 (33.8%) | 1 (4.8%) | 5 (6.3%) | 8 (9.1%) | 131 (58.0%) | 95 (32.0%) | ||
| Least disadvantaged | 112 (15.8%) | 0 | 2 (2.5%) | 0 | 23 (10.2%) | 87 (29.3%) | <0.001* | |
| Geographic remoteness | 711 | |||||||
| Major city | 435 (61.2%) | 1 (4.8%) | 1 (1.3%) | 54 (61.4%) | 179 (79.2%) | 200 (67.3%) | ||
| Inner regional area | 153 (21.5%) | 0 | 40 (50.6%) | 26 (29.5%) | 36 (15.9%) | 51 (17.2%) | ||
| Outer regional area | 66 (9.3%) | 1 (4.8%) | 21 (26.6%) | 8 (9.1%) | 5 (2.2%) | 31 (10.4%) | ||
| Remote area | 30 (4.2%) | 2 (9.5%) | 13 (16.5%) | 0 | 5 (2.2%) | 10 (2.4%) | ||
| Very remote area | 27 (3.8%) | 17 (81.0%) | 4 (5.1%) | 0 | 1 (0.4%) | 5 (1.7%) | <0.001* | |
| Highest education level | 731 | 21 | 82 | 90 | 230 | 308 | ||
| Year 10 and under | 395 (54.0%) | 14 (66.7%) | 58 (70.7%) | 54 (60.0%) | 124 (53.9%) | 145 (47.1%) | ||
| Year 12 | 132 (18.1%) | 3 (14.3%) | 9 (11.0%) | 18 (20.0%) | 38 (16.5%) | 64 (20.8%) | ||
| Certificate in trade or business | 74 (10.1%) | 2 (9.5%) | 9 (11.0%) | 10 (11.1%) | 25 (10.9%) | 28 (9.1%) | ||
| Diploma or associate degree | 46 (6.3%) | 0 | 5 (6.1%) | 5 (5.6%) | 17 (7.4%) | 19 (6.2%) | ||
| Bachelor degree | 48 (6.6%) | 0 | 0 | 1 (1.1%) | 12 (5.2%) | 35 (11.4%) | ||
| Graduate diploma or certificate | 15 (2.1%) | 1 (4.8%) | 0 | 2 (2.2%) | 6 (2.6%) | 6 (1.9%) | ||
| Postgraduate degree | 18 (2.5%) | 1 (4.8%) | 1 (1.2%) | 0 | 7 (3.0%) | 9 (2.9%) | ||
| Other | 3 (0.4%) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 (0.4%) | 2 (0.6%) | <0.001* | |
| Born overseas | 731 | 161 (22.0%) | 2 (9.5%) | 11 (13.4%) | 20 (22.5%) | 53 (22.8%) | 75 (24.4%) | 0.159 |
| Indigenous | 732 | 34 (4.6%) | 10 (47.6%) | 5 (6.1%) | 3 (3.4%) | 8 (3.4%) | 8 (2.6%) | <0.001* |
| Medical condition history | ||||||||
| Diabetes | 733 | 172 (23.5%) | 6 (28.6%) | 20 (24.4%) | 18 (20.0%) | 66 (28.4%) | 62 (20.1%) | 0.195 |
| Type 2 diabetes† | 162 (22.1%) | 6 (28.6%) | 20 (24.4%) | 18 (20.0%) | 59 (25.4%) | 59 (19.2%) | 0.139 | |
| Hypertension | 733 | 359 (49.0%) | 11 (52.4%) | 40 (48.8%) | 52 (57.8%) | 129 (55.6%) | 127 (41.2%) | 0.006* |
| Dyslipidaemia | 733 | 234 (31.9%) | 6 (28.6%) | 30 (36.6%) | 34 (37.8%) | 91 (39.2%) | 73 (23.7%) | 0.001* |
| Myocardial infarct | 733 | 146 (19.9%) | 4 (19.0%) | 10 (12.2%) | 18 (20.0%) | 67 (28.9%) | 47 (15.3%) | 0.001* |
| Cerebrovascular accident | 733 | 85 (11.6%) | 1 (4.8%) | 10 (12.2%) | 10 (11.1%) | 36 (15.5%) | 28 (9.1%) | 0.173 |
| Chronic kidney disease | 733 | 89 (12.1%) | 1 (4.8%) | 9 (11.0%) | 15 (16.7%) | 31 (13.4%) | 33 (10.7%) | 0.431 |
| End-stage kidney disease† | 733 | 9 (1.2%) | 0 | 3 (3.7%) | 1 (1.1%) | 0 | 5 (1.6%) | NA |
| Cancer | 733 | 174 (23.7%) | 1 (4.8%) | 19 (23.2%) | 26 (28.9%) | 43 (18.5%) | 85 (27.6%) | 0.021* |
| Arthritis | 733 | 274 (37.4%) | 5 (23.8%) | 36 (44.4%) | 40 (44.4%) | 91 (39.2%) | 102 (33.1%) | 0.100 |
| Depression | 733 | 191 (26.1%) | 2 (9.5%) | 29 (35.4%) | 28 (31.1%) | 55 (23.7%) | 77 (25.0%) | 0.069 |
| Acute foot trauma | 733 | 26 (3.5%) | 1 (4.8%) | 4 (4.9%) | 6 (6.7%) | 2 (0.9%) | 13 (4.2%) | 0.079 |
| Smoker | 733 | 104 (14.2%) | 7 (33.3%) | 18 (22.0%) | 17 (18.9%) | 12 (5.2%) | 50 (16.2%) | <0.001* |
| Ex-smoker | 733 | 304 (41.5%) | 10 (47.6%) | 34 (41.5%) | 35 (38.9%) | 109 (47.0%) | 116 (37.7%) | 0.256 |
| Self-care ability | ||||||||
| Mobility impairment | 729 | 242 (33.2%) | 4 (19.0%) | 36 (43.9%) | 37 (41.1%) | 78 (33.8%) | 87 (28.5%) | 0.020* |
| Vision impairment | 730 | 110 (15.1%) | 2 (9.5%) | 10 (12.2%) | 12 (13.5%) | 41 (17.7%) | 45 (14.7%) | 0.637 |
| Footwear worn: inside | 728 | |||||||
| Low-risk footwear | 81 (11.1%) | 0 | 9 (11.0%) | 5 (5.6%) | 29 (12.7%) | 38 (12.4%) | ||
| Moderate-risk footwear | 263 (36.1%) | 2 (9.5%) | 35 (42.7%) | 28 (31.1%) | 108 (47.2%) | 90 (29.4%) | ||
| High-risk footwear | 139 (19.1%) | 11 (52.4%) | 12 (14.6%) | 17 (18.9%) | 33 (14.4%) | 66 (21.6%) | ||
| No footwear worn | 245 (33.7%) | 8 (38.1%) | 26 (31.7%) | 40 (44.4%) | 59 (25.8%) | 112 (36.6%) | <0.001* | |
| Footwear worn: outside | 726 | |||||||
| Low-risk footwear | 386 (53.2%) | 12 (57.1%) | 46 (56.1%) | 50 (55.6%) | 118 (51.5%) | 160 (52.6%) | ||
| Moderate-risk footwear | 75 (10.3%) | 1 (4.8%) | 8 (9.8%) | 10 (11.1%) | 34 (14.8%) | 22 (7.2%) | ||
| High-risk footwear | 250 (34.4%) | 8 (38.1%) | 26 (31.7%) | 29 (32.2%) | 74 (32.3%) | 113 (37.2%) | ||
| No footwear worn | 15 (2.1%) | 0 | 2 (2.4%) | 1 (1.1%) | 3 (1.3%) | 9 (3.0%) | 0.405 | |
| Past foot treatment | 733 | |||||||
| Yes | 256 (34.9%) | 6 (28.6%) | 38 (46.3) | 31 (34.4%) | 83 (35.8%) | 98 (31.8%) | 0.167 | |
| Podiatrist | 180 (24.6%) | 4 (19.0%) | 21 (25.6%) | 23 (25.6%) | 70 (30.2%) | 62 (20.1%) | 0.105 | |
| GP | 93 (12.7%) | 3 (14.3%) | 22 (26.8%) | 8 (8.9%) | 19 (8.2%) | 41 (13.3%) | <0.001* | |
| Surgeon | 36 (4.9%) | 0 | 6 (7.3%) | 2 (2.2%) | 6 (2.6%) | 22 (7.1%) | 0.050 | |
| Physician | 21 (2.9%) | 2 (9.5%) | 7 (8.5%) | 0 | 4 (1.7%) | 8 (2.6%) | 0.002* | |
| Nurse | 20 (2.7%) | 1 (4.8%) | 3 (3.7%) | 0 | 6 (2.6%) | 10 (3.2%) | 0.486 | |
| Orthotist | 4 (0.5%) | 0 | 1 (1.2%) | 1 (1.1%) | 0 | 2 (0.6%) | NA | |
| Other | 9 (1.2%) | 3 (14) | 0 | 1 (1.1%) | 0 | 5 (1.6%) | NA | |
| Foot disease history | ||||||||
| Previous peripheral neuropathy | 728 | 99 (13.6%) | 0 | 9 (11.0%) | 13 (14.4%) | 20 (8.7%) | 57 (18.8%) | 0.004* |
| Previous PAD | 728 | 97 (13.3%) | 1 (4.8%) | 7 (8.5%) | 13 (14.4%) | 17 (7.4%) | 59 (19.4%) | 0.001* |
| Previous foot ulcer | 731 | 72 (9.8%) | 1 (4.8%) | 6 (7.3%) | 9 (10.0%) | 17 (7.4%) | 39 (12.7%) | 0.228 |
| Previous amputation | 731 | 30 (4.1%) | 0 | 2 (2.4%) | 3 (3.3%) | 6 (2.6%) | 19 (6.2%) | 0.181 |
| Foot risk factors | ||||||||
| Peripheral neuropathy | 728 | 160 (22.0%) | 3 (14.3%) | 24 (29.6%) | 16 (17.8%) | 58 (25.1%) | 59 (19.3%) | 0.137 |
| PAD | 728 | |||||||
| Mild PAD | 69 (9.5%) | 2 (9.5%) | 7 (8.5%) | 8 (8.9%) | 25 (10.8%) | 27 (8.9%) | ||
| Moderate PAD | 51 (7.0%) | 0 | 5 (6.1%) | 7 (7.8%) | 18 (7.8%) | 21 (6.9%) | ||
| Critical PAD | 33 (4.5%) | 1 (4.8%) | 2 (2.4%) | 3 (3.3%) | 8 (3.5%) | 19 (6.3%) | 0.887 | |
| Foot deformity | 706 | 158 (22.4%) | 2 (9.5%) | 13 (16.0%) | 20 (22.7%) | 51 (22.5%) | 72 (24.9%) | 0.293 |
| Foot disease | ||||||||
| Acute Charcot | 730 | 2 (0.3%) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 (0.9%) | 0 | NA |
| Current foot ulcer | 732 | 46 (6.3%) | 0 | 6 (7.3%) | 5 (5.6%) | 10 (4.3%) | 25 (8.1%) | 0.298 |
| Current foot infection | 723 | 24 (3.3%) | 0 | 5 (6.2%) | 3 (3.3%) | 5 (2.2%) | 11 (3.6%) | 0.405 |
| Foot risk status | 731 | |||||||
| Low risk | 445 (60.9%) | 15 (71.4%) | 43 (52.4%) | 59 (65.6%) | 132 (57.1%) | 196 (63.8%) | ||
| At risk | 111 (15.2%) | 1 (4.8%) | 20 (24.4%) | 9 (10.0%) | 50 (21.6%) | 31 (10.1%) | ||
| High risk | 109 (14.9%) | 4 (19.0%) | 8 (9.8%) | 16 (17.8%) | 37 (16.0%) | 44 (14.4%) | ||
| Acute | 66 (9.0%) | 1 (4.8%) | 11 (13.4%) | 6 (6.7%) | 12 (5.2%) | 36 (11.7%) | 0.001* | |
| Foot-related condition admission (95% CI) | 732 | 82 (11.2%) (9.1 to 13.7) | 1 (4.8%) | 13 (15.9%) | 6 (6.7%) | 14 (6.0%) | 48 (15.6%) | 0.002* |
| Primary reason (95% CI) | 732 | 54 (7.4%) (5.7 to 9.5) | 1 (4.8%) | 10 (12.2%) | 5 (5.6%) | 5 (2.2%) | 33 (10.7%) | 0.002* |
| Secondary reason (95% CI) | 732 | 28 (3.8%) (2.6 to 5.5) | 0 | 3 (3.7%) | 1 (1.1%) | 9 (3.9%) | 15 (4.9%) | NA |
*p Value of <0.05.
†Numbers also included in overall condition. GP, general practitioner; Metro, metropolitan; NA, not applicable to test as the assumption of χ2 test is violated as two cells had expected count <5; PAD, peripheral arterial disease.