Table 2

Participant characteristics for each hospital site (number (%) unless otherwise stated)

nTotalLarge regionalMajor regionalLarge MetroMajor Metro specialtyMajor Metro. generalp Value
Participants733733218290232308
Ward
 Medical733459 (62.6%)16 (76.2%)49 (59.8%)57 (63.3%)171 (73.7%)166 (53.9%)
 Surgical733274 (37.4%)5 (23.8%)33 (40.2%)33 (36.7%)61 (26.3%)142 (46.1%)<0.001*
Demographics
 Age (SD) years73162.0 (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 years73118–9920–8518–9121–9618–9918–94
 Age groups731
  18–40 years110 (15.0%)6 (28.6%)12 (14.6%)12 (13.3%)28 (12.1%)52 (16.9%)
  41–60 years188 (25.7%)8 (38.1%)20 (24.4%)23 (25.6%)54 (23.4%)83 (27.0%)
  61–80 years316 (43.2%)6 (28.6%)36 (43.9%)37 (41.1%)94 (40.7%)143 (46.6%)
  81+ years117 (16.0%)1 (4.8%)14 (17.1%)18 (20.0%)55 (23.8%)29 (9.4%)<0.001*
 Male sex731408 (55.8%)13 (61.9%)52 (63.4%)46 (51.1%)127 (54.7%)170 (55.6%)0.531
Social determinants
 Socioeconomic status711
  Most disadvantaged102 (14.3%)6 (28.6%)4 (5.1%)30 (34.1%)23 (10.2%)39 (13.1%)
  Second most disadvantaged159 (22.4%)2 (9.5%)41 (51.9%)40 (45.5%)27 (11.9%)49 (16.5%)
  Middle98 (13.8%)12 (57.1%)27 (34.2%)10 (11.4%)22 (9.7%)27 (9.1%)
  Second least disadvantaged240 (33.8%)1 (4.8%)5 (6.3%)8 (9.1%)131 (58.0%)95 (32.0%)
  Least disadvantaged112 (15.8%)02 (2.5%)023 (10.2%)87 (29.3%)<0.001*
 Geographic remoteness711
  Major city435 (61.2%)1 (4.8%)1 (1.3%)54 (61.4%)179 (79.2%)200 (67.3%)
  Inner regional area153 (21.5%)040 (50.6%)26 (29.5%)36 (15.9%)51 (17.2%)
  Outer regional area66 (9.3%)1 (4.8%)21 (26.6%)8 (9.1%)5 (2.2%)31 (10.4%)
  Remote area30 (4.2%)2 (9.5%)13 (16.5%)05 (2.2%)10 (2.4%)
  Very remote area27 (3.8%)17 (81.0%)4 (5.1%)01 (0.4%)5 (1.7%)<0.001*
 Highest education level731218290230308
  Year 10 and under395 (54.0%)14 (66.7%)58 (70.7%)54 (60.0%)124 (53.9%)145 (47.1%)
  Year 12132 (18.1%)3 (14.3%)9 (11.0%)18 (20.0%)38 (16.5%)64 (20.8%)
  Certificate in trade or business74 (10.1%)2 (9.5%)9 (11.0%)10 (11.1%)25 (10.9%)28 (9.1%)
  Diploma or associate degree46 (6.3%)05 (6.1%)5 (5.6%)17 (7.4%)19 (6.2%)
  Bachelor degree48 (6.6%)001 (1.1%)12 (5.2%)35 (11.4%)
  Graduate diploma or certificate15 (2.1%)1 (4.8%)02 (2.2%)6 (2.6%)6 (1.9%)
  Postgraduate degree18 (2.5%)1 (4.8%)1 (1.2%)07 (3.0%)9 (2.9%)
  Other3 (0.4%)0001 (0.4%)2 (0.6%)<0.001*
 Born overseas731161 (22.0%)2 (9.5%)11 (13.4%)20 (22.5%)53 (22.8%)75 (24.4%)0.159
 Indigenous73234 (4.6%)10 (47.6%)5 (6.1%)3 (3.4%)8 (3.4%)8 (2.6%)<0.001*
Medical condition history
 Diabetes733172 (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
 Hypertension733359 (49.0%)11 (52.4%)40 (48.8%)52 (57.8%)129 (55.6%)127 (41.2%)0.006*
 Dyslipidaemia733234 (31.9%)6 (28.6%)30 (36.6%)34 (37.8%)91 (39.2%)73 (23.7%)0.001*
 Myocardial infarct733146 (19.9%)4 (19.0%)10 (12.2%)18 (20.0%)67 (28.9%)47 (15.3%)0.001*
 Cerebrovascular accident73385 (11.6%)1 (4.8%)10 (12.2%)10 (11.1%)36 (15.5%)28 (9.1%)0.173
 Chronic kidney disease73389 (12.1%)1 (4.8%)9 (11.0%)15 (16.7%)31 (13.4%)33 (10.7%)0.431
 End-stage kidney disease†7339 (1.2%)03 (3.7%)1 (1.1%)05 (1.6%)NA
 Cancer733174 (23.7%)1 (4.8%)19 (23.2%)26 (28.9%)43 (18.5%)85 (27.6%)0.021*
 Arthritis733274 (37.4%)5 (23.8%)36 (44.4%)40 (44.4%)91 (39.2%)102 (33.1%)0.100
 Depression733191 (26.1%)2 (9.5%)29 (35.4%)28 (31.1%)55 (23.7%)77 (25.0%)0.069
 Acute foot trauma73326 (3.5%)1 (4.8%)4 (4.9%)6 (6.7%)2 (0.9%)13 (4.2%)0.079
 Smoker733104 (14.2%)7 (33.3%)18 (22.0%)17 (18.9%)12 (5.2%)50 (16.2%)<0.001*
 Ex-smoker733304 (41.5%)10 (47.6%)34 (41.5%)35 (38.9%)109 (47.0%)116 (37.7%)0.256
Self-care ability
 Mobility impairment729242 (33.2%)4 (19.0%)36 (43.9%)37 (41.1%)78 (33.8%)87 (28.5%)0.020*
 Vision impairment730110 (15.1%)2 (9.5%)10 (12.2%)12 (13.5%)41 (17.7%)45 (14.7%)0.637
 Footwear worn: inside728
  Low-risk footwear81 (11.1%)09 (11.0%)5 (5.6%)29 (12.7%)38 (12.4%)
  Moderate-risk footwear263 (36.1%)2 (9.5%)35 (42.7%)28 (31.1%)108 (47.2%)90 (29.4%)
  High-risk footwear139 (19.1%)11 (52.4%)12 (14.6%)17 (18.9%)33 (14.4%)66 (21.6%)
  No footwear worn245 (33.7%)8 (38.1%)26 (31.7%)40 (44.4%)59 (25.8%)112 (36.6%)<0.001*
 Footwear worn: outside726
  Low-risk footwear386 (53.2%)12 (57.1%)46 (56.1%)50 (55.6%)118 (51.5%)160 (52.6%)
  Moderate-risk footwear75 (10.3%)1 (4.8%)8 (9.8%)10 (11.1%)34 (14.8%)22 (7.2%)
  High-risk footwear250 (34.4%)8 (38.1%)26 (31.7%)29 (32.2%)74 (32.3%)113 (37.2%)
  No footwear worn15 (2.1%)02 (2.4%)1 (1.1%)3 (1.3%)9 (3.0%)0.405
Past foot treatment733
 Yes256 (34.9%)6 (28.6%)38 (46.3)31 (34.4%)83 (35.8%)98 (31.8%)0.167
 Podiatrist180 (24.6%)4 (19.0%)21 (25.6%)23 (25.6%)70 (30.2%)62 (20.1%)0.105
 GP93 (12.7%)3 (14.3%)22 (26.8%)8 (8.9%)19 (8.2%)41 (13.3%)<0.001*
 Surgeon36 (4.9%)06 (7.3%)2 (2.2%)6 (2.6%)22 (7.1%)0.050
 Physician21 (2.9%)2 (9.5%)7 (8.5%)04 (1.7%)8 (2.6%)0.002*
 Nurse20 (2.7%)1 (4.8%)3 (3.7%)06 (2.6%)10 (3.2%)0.486
 Orthotist4 (0.5%)01 (1.2%)1 (1.1%)02 (0.6%)NA
 Other9 (1.2%)3 (14)01 (1.1%)05 (1.6%)NA
Foot disease history
 Previous peripheral neuropathy72899 (13.6%)09 (11.0%)13 (14.4%)20 (8.7%)57 (18.8%)0.004*
 Previous PAD72897 (13.3%)1 (4.8%)7 (8.5%)13 (14.4%)17 (7.4%)59 (19.4%)0.001*
 Previous foot ulcer73172 (9.8%)1 (4.8%)6 (7.3%)9 (10.0%)17 (7.4%)39 (12.7%)0.228
 Previous amputation73130 (4.1%)02 (2.4%)3 (3.3%)6 (2.6%)19 (6.2%)0.181
Foot risk factors
 Peripheral neuropathy728160 (22.0%)3 (14.3%)24 (29.6%)16 (17.8%)58 (25.1%)59 (19.3%)0.137
 PAD728
  Mild PAD69 (9.5%)2 (9.5%)7 (8.5%)8 (8.9%)25 (10.8%)27 (8.9%)
  Moderate PAD51 (7.0%)05 (6.1%)7 (7.8%)18 (7.8%)21 (6.9%)
  Critical PAD33 (4.5%)1 (4.8%)2 (2.4%)3 (3.3%)8 (3.5%)19 (6.3%)0.887
 Foot deformity706158 (22.4%)2 (9.5%)13 (16.0%)20 (22.7%)51 (22.5%)72 (24.9%)0.293
Foot disease
 Acute Charcot7302 (0.3%)0002 (0.9%)0NA
 Current foot ulcer73246 (6.3%)06 (7.3%)5 (5.6%)10 (4.3%)25 (8.1%)0.298
 Current foot infection72324 (3.3%)05 (6.2%)3 (3.3%)5 (2.2%)11 (3.6%)0.405
Foot risk status731
 Low risk445 (60.9%)15 (71.4%)43 (52.4%)59 (65.6%)132 (57.1%)196 (63.8%)
 At risk111 (15.2%)1 (4.8%)20 (24.4%)9 (10.0%)50 (21.6%)31 (10.1%)
 High risk109 (14.9%)4 (19.0%)8 (9.8%)16 (17.8%)37 (16.0%)44 (14.4%)
 Acute66 (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)73282 (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)73254 (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)73228 (3.8%) (2.6 to 5.5)03 (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.