Clinical decision support systems for diabetic foot ulcers: a scoping review

OBJECTIVE

Map the scientific evidence on the use of clinical decision support systems in diabetic foot care.

METHOD

A scoping review based on the JBI Manual for Evidence Synthesis and registered on the Open Science Framework platform. Searches were carried out in primary and secondary sources on prototypes and computerized tools aimed at assisting patients with diabetic foot or at risk of having it, published in any language or period, in eleven databases and grey literature.

RESULTS

A total of 710 studies were identified and, following the eligibility criteria, 23 were selected, which portrayed the use of decision support systems in diabetic foot screening, predicting the risk of ulcers and amputations, classifying the stage of severity, deciding on the treatment plan, and evaluating the effectiveness of interventions, by processing data relating to clinical and sociodemographic information.

CONCLUSION

Expert systems stand out for their satisfactory results, with high precision and sensitivity when it comes to guiding and qualifying the decision-making process in diabetic foot prevention and care.

Diabetic foot ulcer self-care assessment: a scoping review

OBJECTIVES

to map, in the world literature, instruments for assessing foot self-care of people with diabetes.

METHODS

a scoping review in Scopus by Elsevier, MEDLINE via PubMed, LILACS, SciELO databases and gray literature, using the controlled words diabetic foot, self care, questionnaire. Search was carried out in February and March 2021, according to JBI recommendations and PRISMA-ScR extension.

RESULTS

fifteen studies made up the review, 14 articles and one thesis, published between 2000 and 2020. 16 instruments were identified: five with an emphasis on general self-care and 11 on foot self-care. Inspection, hygiene, washing and drying between the toes, lotion application and use of proper shoes and socks were the main self-care measures presented.

FINAL CONSIDERATIONS

foot self-care is assessed by knowledge, social support and frequency with which measures are being put into practice, encouraging professional practice.

Effects of educational technologies on the prevention and treatment of diabetic ulcers: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

to analyze the effects of educational technologies in the prevention and treatment of diabetic ulcers.

METHOD

a systematic review conducted in seven databases, a bibliographic index, an electronic library and the Gray Literature. The sample consisted of 11 randomized controlled clinical trials. The synthesis of the results was descriptive and through meta-analysis.

RESULTS

the predominant educational technologies were training sessions and verbal guidelines, with soft-hard technologies standing out. When compared to usual care, the educational technologies presented a protective factor to prevent the incidence of diabetic ulcers (RR=0.40; 95% CI=0.18-0.90; p=0.03) and the certainty of the evidence assessment was low. The educational technologies also had a protective factor to prevent the incidence of lower limb amputations (RR=0.53; 95% CI=0.31-0.90; p=0.02) and certainty of the evidence was very low.

CONCLUSION

soft-hard educational technologies such as structured verbal guidelines, educational games, lectures, theoretical-practical training sessions, educational videos, folders, serial albums and playful drawings, and hard technologies such as therapeutic footwear, insoles, infrared digital thermometer, foot care kits, Telemedicine app and mobile phone use, were effective for the prevention and treatment of diabetic ulcers, although more robust studies are required.

Uso de colágeno y terapia de presión negativa en una úlcera de pie diabético: caso de estudio

Use of collagen and negative pressure wound therapy in a diabetic foot ulcer: a case study SINOPSIS: The following case study describes the use of a collagen layer in combination with negative pressure wound therapy in a diabetic foot ulcer, treated in a hospital in Chile. The wound reduced 58% in size in the first 10 weeks of treatment, reaching complete healing in the following 14 weeks. The treatment carried out avoided amputation of the foot of the patient who, at 64 years of age, maintained his independence and quality of life.

Uso de apósitos con TLC-NOSF en el manejo de la úlcera de pie diabético, basado en la revisión de la evidencia y la práctica clínica

Management of diabetic foot ulcers with a TLC-NOSF dressing, based on evidence and clinical practice The incidence of diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) has increased in the past decade, both in Chile and worldwide, as a result of the progressive growth in diabetes prevalence. Because DFU are associated with a high risk of infection and amputation, it is crucial to choose effective and evidence-based treatments. A dressing combining technology lipidocolloid with nano-oligo saccharide factor (TLC-NOSF) has demonstrated its effectiveness in managing DFU. This article reviews the evidence around TLC-NOSF and its implementation in clinical practice.

Clinical case: complicated diabetic foot ulcer

Description of a clinical case of a long-standing diabetic patient, who on admission to prison presents ulcerations on both feet, of ten years of evolution. Until his admission to the Penitentiary Center he has suffered repeated hospital admissions, repeatedly proposing amputation, which the patient refused. The objective of this work is to demonstrate the importance of performing an etiological diagnosis of the lesion, taking into account all the factors that are present in a diabetic foot lesion.

[Criteria for referral between levels of care of patients with peripheral vascular disease. SEMFYC-SEACV consensus document]

Coordination between care levels is essential to increase the efficiency of the Health System; vascular disease has an important role in this respects, as it includes frequent, serious and vulnerable conditions. Consensus documents are an essential tool to obtain these aims. This document is not expected to replace the Clinical Guidelines, but tries to establish the basis of the shared management of the patient with vascular disease (peripheral arterial disease, diabetic foot, and chronic venous insufficiency) in three ways: to determine the profile of the patient who should receive priority follow-up at every level; to establish the skills that every professional must have, and to set and to prioritise the referral criteria in both directions.

[Triple-blind clinical trial with placebo control to evaluate the efficacy of a heparin of low molecular weight (bemiparin) for treating slow-responding ulcers in diabetic foot in primary care]

OBJECTIVES

To establish the degree of efficacy of bemiparin treatment over 3 months in the improvement of slow-responding ulcers in diabetic foot. Also, to evaluate the safety of bemiparin and quality of life and to compare the evolution of retinopathy and nephropathy against placebo.

DESIGN

Stage III clinical trial to evaluate efficacy and safety in a new indication of a medicine already on the market, parallel in two branches, randomised, triple-blind, and controlled with placebo.

SETTING

Health care centres in Mallorca, Spain.

PARTICIPANTS

42 patients per branch, over 18, with type-1 or 2 DM of over 3 years evolution, and one or more first or second-degree ulcers on the Wagner scale, distal to the knee, that did not heal in three months of health care. Randomised allocation in blocks of four.Interventions. The experimental drug was bemiparin (heparin of low molecular weight), injected subcutaneously at 3500 IU/day for the first 10 days and 2500 IU/day up to 90 days. As control, physiological serum was injected sub-cutaneously in a similar volume for masking.

MAIN MEASUREMENTS

An "effect"was defined as a reduction of at least 50% in its surface area and/or a favourable evolution in status to a degree between the control at the start of treatment and at three months. Other measurements included proteinuria, retinography and quality of life (SF-36). Analysis of efficacy through principle of intention to treat.