Portuguese validation of the foot health status Questionnaire in patients with diabetic foot disease.

PURPOSE: This study aims to adapt and validate the Foot Health Status Questionnaire, developed by Bennett et al., in Portuguese patients with diabetic foot. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 143 patients with diabetic foot. A principal component analysis with oblique rotation and a confirmatory factor analysis using structural equation modeling were performed. RESULTS: The Portuguese version of the FHSQ (FHSQ-PT) in patients with diabetic foot remains equal to the original version, although with all factors correlated with each other. All scales presented high internal consistency values (pain: ω = 0.884; function: ω = 0.890; general foot health: ω = 0.910; and footwear: ω = 0.702), except for the footwear scale, although with a minimum acceptable coefficient. The FHSQ-PT scales showed good convergent validity and good discriminant validity. The FHSQ-PT scales were also able to discriminate between male and female patients as well as between patients with an active diabetic foot ulcer from those who did not. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the validated FHSQ-PT for Portuguese patients with diabetic foot showed good psychometric properties, being a useful, objective, and small instrument that may be used in clinical practice by health professionals without consuming too much time.

Diabetic foot ulcer has been consistently reported to be associated to lower health-related quality of life, impairing the patient's everyday function.Validated comprehensive measures that assess specific dimensions related to foot health in patients with diabetic foot are needed.The Portuguese version of the Foot Health Status Questionnaire (FHSQ-PT) showed good psychometric properties.FHSQ-PT is a useful short instrument that may be used to measure foot health status in clinical practice by health professionals who provide care to patients with diabetic foot.

Arabic translation, cross cultural adaptation, and validation of Foot Health Status Questionnaire among Saudi individuals with plantar fasciitis.

BACKGROUND: Measuring quality of life (QoL) plays an essential role in enabling meaningful cross-cultural comparisons. The Foot Health Status Questionnaire (FHSQ) is a valid tool for assessing both foot-specific and general health-related quality of life (HrQoL), making it suitable for evaluating Plantar Fasciitis (PF) patients. METHODOLOGY: The aim of this study is to translate the FHSQ into Arabic following methodological assessments of the translation procedure. The translation was done using forward and back translation. A pre-test questionnaire was distributed among 50 patients, resulting in the final FHSQ-Ar version, which then underwent various psychometric evaluations among 87 persons with PF, including internal consistency, dimensionality, reliability, interpretability, and construct validity against the 100-mm Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). RESULTS: Internal consistency was adequate, ranging from 0.70 to 0.92. Reliability values ranged from 0.69 to 0.80, with a poor standard error of measurement (individual) but an acceptable standard error of measurement (group). Two domains exhibited floor effects, while one domain showed a ceiling effect. Regarding validity, three out of four hypothesized correlations with VAS scores were confirmed. Factor analysis revealed four dimensions, and confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated good fit (comparative fit index = 0.98, standardized root mean square = 0.06). CONCLUSION: The psychometric properties of the FHSQ-Ar were satisfactory. Further validation for other diseases may be warranted.

Impact of Multiple Sclerosis on Foot Health and Quality of Life: A Prospective Case-Control Investigation.

Objectives: To assess quality of life or factors related to the foot and general health and to determine the impact taking into account foot health status in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods: 50 subjects with MS and 50 healthy subjects were studied using the Foot Health Status Questionnaire, that is a validated and is reliable tool was used to assess foot health and quality of life. This instrument comprise four domains for evaluate the foot health (foot function, foot pain, footwear and general foot health) in the first section and for measure the general health comprise four domains (general health, physical activity, social capacity and vigor) for second section and was use for all participants. Results: In both groups of the sample, 50% (n = 15) were men and 50% (n = 35) women, and the mean age in the case group was 48.04 ± 10.49 and the control group was 48.04 ± 10.45 were recruited. A statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) was shown for foot function, general foot health, general health, physical activity and vigor domains, stating that people with MS have a lower related to foot health (lower FHSQ scores) compared to healthy subjects who have higher FHSQ scores. There were no statistically significant differences (p > 0.05) for the scores of the other domains of the FHSQ (foot pain, footwear and social capacity). Conclusion: Patients with MS suffer a negative impact on the quality of life related to foot health, which appears to be associated with the chronic disease.

Translation and Validation of 'Foot Health Status Questionnaire' in Dutch.

The aim of our study was to develop a Dutch version of the Foot Health Status Questionnaire (FHSQ-NL) and evaluate its measurement properties according to the COSMIN definition (COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments). After translation of the FSHQ, a group of 119 randomly selected patient who visited the outpatient clinic for conditions affecting the foot and ankle were asked to participate, of which103 patients were included in the analysis. The FHSQ-NL, a validated Dutch FAOS and a visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain and function were used in this study as outcomes measures. Reliability was assessed by calculating intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), internal consistency by Cronbach's alpha, and the smallest detectable change (SDC). Construct validity was evaluated by use of a priori hypotheses concerning Spearman's correlation coefficient between FHSQ subscales and FAOS and VAS. All domains of the FHSQ-NL, besides 'General health,' indicated good internal consistency with a Cronbach's alpha ranging from 0.61 to 0.91. Test-retest reliability of all FHSQ domains was poor with an ICC ranging from 0.47 to 0.77. At individual level, the SDC ranged from 35.1 to 60.6 and at a group level (n = 50) from 5.0 to 8.6. Construct validity was supported by confirmation of 75% of all a priori hypotheses. The FHSQ-NL has good internal consistency and smallest detectable change (SDC) at group level. However, reliability and SDC on individual level show suboptimal results. Therefore, the questionnaire is more suitable for evaluating foot complaints at group level instead of individual level.

Surgical or non-surgical treatment of plantar fasciopathy (SOFT): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Plantar fasciopathy is the most common reason for complaints of plantar heel pain and one of the most prevalent musculoskeletal conditions with a reported lifetime incidence of 10%. The condition is normally considered self-limiting with persistent symptoms that often last for several months or years. Multiple treatments are available, but no single treatment appears superior to the others. Heavy-slow resistance training and radiofrequency microtenotomy for the treatment of plantar fasciopathy have shown potentially positive effects on short- and long-term outcomes (> 3 months). However, the effect of heavy-slow resistance training compared with a radiofrequency microtenotomy treatment is currently unknown. This trial compares the efficacy of heavy-slow resistance training and radiofrequency microtenotomy treatment with supplemental standardized patient education and heel inserts in improving the Foot Health Status Questionnaire pain score after 6 months in patients with plantar fasciopathy. METHODS: In this randomized superiority trial, we will recruit 70 patients with ultrasound-confirmed plantar fasciopathy and randomly allocate them to one of two groups: (1) heavy-slow resistance training, patient education and a heel insert (n = 35), and (2) radiofrequency microtenotomy treatment, patient education and a heel insert (n = 35). All participants will be followed for 1 year, with the 6-month follow-up considered the primary endpoint. The primary outcome is the Foot Health Status Questionnaire pain domain score. Secondary outcomes include the remaining three domains of the Foot Health Status Questionnaire, a Global Perceived Effect scale, the physical activity level, and Patient Acceptable Symptom State, which is the point at which participants feel no further need for treatment. DISCUSSION: By comparing the two treatment options, we should be able to answer if radiofrequency microtenotomy compared with heavy-slow resistance training is superior in patients with plantar fasciopathy. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03854682. Prospectively registered on February 26, 2019.

Efficacy of a single botulinum toxin A injection for distal tarsal tunnel syndrome: A protocol for a randomized, double-blinded trial.

INTRODUCTION: Distal tarsal tunnel syndrome (DTTS) is characterised by compression of the tibial nerve as it passes underneath the abductor hallucis muscle belly. There is no current consensus on treatment for DTTS. This study was conducted to compare and evaluate the effect of ultrasound-guided botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) versus ultrasound-guided corticosteroid injection (CSI) for the treatment of DTTS. METHODS: This study was a single-centre, randomized, and double-blinded trial. The study protocol was submitted to the local ethics committee board and subsequently registered in a research registry. 88 patients with DTTS were randomly divided into 2 groups according to the treatment received. The patients were evaluated over 12 weeks. Evaluation was via the Foot Health Status Questionnaire (FHSQ). The primary outcome measures were pain and the secondary outcomes were function and the use of oral analgesics. All of the assessments were performed at baseline and at 3, 6, and 12 weeks after treatment. RESULTS: This is a randomized controlled trial evaluating the efficacy of BTX-A versus CSI in the treatment of DTTS. This study has limited inclusion and exclusion criteria and a well-controlled intervention. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this trial will provide more evidence on which method can better treat DTTS. TRIAL REGISTRATION: We have registered this trial with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry and the temporary trial number is 380,105.

Foot health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in regional and rural NSW, Australia.

BACKGROUND: Foot health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians' has not been established. Additionally, studies have shown that there is a lack of engagement of this population with general preventive foot care services. The aim of this study was to establish foot health in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people attending two recently developed, culturally safe podiatry services in rural and regional New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Secondarily the relationship between self-perceived foot health and some medical and demographic characteristics was investigated. METHODS: This descriptive cross-sectional study included participants attending the culturally safe foot health care services managed by the University of Newcastle on the Central Coast or in Wellington, both located in NSW, Australia. At the consultation, participants completed the Foot Health Status Questionnaire (FHSQ) with the assistance of an Aboriginal health care worker, underwent basic vascular and neurological screening, and podiatric treatment. RESULTS: A total of 111 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians (48 from the Central Coast, and 63 from Wellington) were included. FHSQ scores for pain (75.7 ± 26.8), function (80.2 ± 25.2), footwear (53.9 ± 33.4), and general foot health (62.0 ± 30.9) were generally good, but below the optimal score of 100. The presence of diabetes (n = 39 of 111 participants or 35.1%) was associated with lower levels of self-perceived foot function (r = - 0.20, n = 107, p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: We found that community-based foot health care services that are culturally safe are utilised by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples not currently at high risk of foot complications. This supports the use of culturally safe foot care services to improve engagement with preventative foot care. Future research should continue to be driven by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and investigate ways to implement additional screening measures and undertake prospective evaluation of the impact of such services on health related outcomes in these communities.

Autogenous capsular interpositional arthroplasty surgery for painful hallux rigidus: assessing changes in range of motion and postoperative foot health.

The autogenous capsular interpositional arthroplasty procedure can be a motion-sparing alternative to arthrodesis for the treatment of recalcitrant hallux rigidus deformity. Previous studies have reported positive results; however, many had small samples or lacked comparable preoperative measures. The present study used a prospective cohort study to assess the benefit of this technique for increasing range of motion, and comparative data to assess the reduction of pain and improvements in perceived foot health status for a consecutively drawn sample of patients. Thirty-four patients (44 feet) reviewed using a long-arm goniometer at a mean of 3.75 years after surgery experienced a significant increase in dorsiflexion (preoperative mean 11.09° ± 10.13°; postoperative mean 26.64° ± 10.07°; p < .001); plantar flexion remained unchanged. Additionally, 15 of 17 patients for whom the hallux abductus angle was initially greater than the normal range was within the normal range postoperatively. The postoperative patient perceptions of foot pain were significantly better than those from a comparable sample of patients presenting for a surgical opinion (t[69] = 6.80), just as were the perceptions of foot function, foot health, and footwear comfort (p < .001 for all). The postoperative perceptions of foot pain were comparable with the postoperative results from a range of previously published studies. These results have shown, with improvements in range of motion and reduction in pain, that autogenous capsular interpositional arthroplasty is a useful, motion-sparing technique in the treatment of painful hallux rigidus and should be considered for classification as a clinical practice guideline.