Baropodometric Assessment of the Podiatric Profile of Nursing Students in Clinical Settings

Foot Diseases Clinical Trial

Official title:

Baropodometric Assessment of the Podiatric Profile of Nursing Students in Clinical Settings

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT05197166
• Other study ID #: 151102
• Status: Completed
• Start date: January 1, 2022
• Est. completion date: December 30, 2022

Study information

• Verified date: September 2023
• Source: Escola Superior de Enfermagem de Coimbra
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Observational

Clinical Trial Summary

The nursing profession is highly affected by exhausting positions, namely prolonged standing and walking, which are the second work-related factor hindering foot health. In fact, the most common work-related disorders among nurses and nursing students are those related to lower limbs, particularly the foot and ankle. Such disorders, if not adequately prevented, contribute to the decrease in quality of life and high student drop-out rates.

To effectively develop preventive interventions among students, namely self-care actions, it's important to assess with detail the relationship and influence that clinical settings have on foot health. According to some authors, the biomechanics of many foot disorders are still poorly understood, and more studies are needed.

In this sense, the aim of this study is to understand the influence of prolonged standing and walking positions on nursing students' foot health. Moreover, what's the relationship between the podiatric profile (regional force and pressure exerted on the foot) and related signs and symptoms.

Description:

Work-related injuries, particularly musculoskeletal injuries, are usually an important cause of decreased quality of life and absenteeism from work, being very common in the nursing profession and also among students. Among the most common injuries are those related to the lower limbs, particularly feet and ankles, and the foot health of nurses is not satisfactory, with a great shortage of specific studies in this area and in this population.

Although several studies identify this problem, few describe in detail the causes of pain or discomfort. On the other hand, the podiatry evaluations are poor, which limits a more detailed knowledge of the phenomenon under study. Some solutions, namely the development of ergonomic footwear are insufficient and few interventions are adequate to improve the foot health of nursing students.

The present study aims to understand the influence of prolonged standing and walking positions on nursing students' foot health. Moreover, what's the relationship between the podiatric profile (regional force and pressure exerted on the foot) and related signs and symptoms.

The observational study will consist of two moments (before and after clinical setting periods), in which the participants (Nursing students) will complete a four-dimensional foot health self-assessment instrument (skin health, nail health, foot structure, pain). Additionally, the podiatric profile will be assessed through a force platform scan, which will score force and pressure values. Moreover, foot posture and foot function will be evaluated, through the modified arch index (MAI) and pressure excursion index (CPEI), respectively. Relevant variables will include spatio-temporal, kinematic, and kinetic data.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 200
• Est. completion date: December 30, 2022
• Est. primary completion date: July 26, 2022
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: All
• Age group: 18 Years and older

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• A nursing student enrolled in a learning acute clinical setting (e.g., hospitals).

• No diagnosed chronic systematic diseases (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis).

• No diagnosed metabolic disorders (e.g., diabetes).

• No visible lower limb swelling.

• No venous or lymphatic insufficiency.

• Voluntary written consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Presence of contraindications for baropodometric-related measurements;

• No consent to take part in the study.

• History of orthopaedic, neurological, and/or musculoskeletal problems likely to affect gait.

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Ankle Injuries
• Foot Diseases

Intervention

Other:
• Acute Clinical Settings
Acute clinical settings, like hospitals, where students are exposed to normal daily shift activities, involving prolonged walking and standing positions.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Portugal	Nursing School of Coimbra (ESEnfC)	Coimbra

Sponsors (3)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Escola Superior de Enfermagem de Coimbra	Universidade Católica Portuguesa, University of Turku

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Portugal, 

References & Publications (11)

Abledu JK, Offei EB. Musculoskeletal disorders among first-year Ghanaian students in a nursing college. Afr Health Sci. 2015 Jun;15(2):444-9. doi: 10.4314/ahs.v15i2.18. — View Citation

Bakker EJM, Verhaegh KJ, Kox JHAM, van der Beek AJ, Boot CRL, Roelofs PDDM, Francke AL. Late dropout from nursing education: An interview study of nursing students' experiences and reasons. Nurse Educ Pract. 2019 Aug;39:17-25. doi: 10.1016/j.nepr.2019.07.005. Epub 2019 Jul 15. — View Citation

Chiwaridzo M, Makotore V, Dambi JM, Munambah N, Mhlanga M. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders among registered general nurses: a case of a large central hospital in Harare, Zimbabwe. BMC Res Notes. 2018 May 18;11(1):315. doi: 10.1186/s13104-018-3412-8. — View Citation

Hagedorn TJ, Dufour AB, Riskowski JL, Hillstrom HJ, Menz HB, Casey VA, Hannan MT. Foot disorders, foot posture, and foot function: the Framingham foot study. PLoS One. 2013 Sep 5;8(9):e74364. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0074364. eCollection 2013. — View Citation

Richardson A, Gurung G, Derrett S, Harcombe H. Perspectives on preventing musculoskeletal injuries in nurses: A qualitative study. Nurs Open. 2019 Apr 13;6(3):915-929. doi: 10.1002/nop2.272. eCollection 2019 Jul. — View Citation

Sanchez-Saez JM, Palomo-Lopez P, Becerro-de-Bengoa-Vallejo R, Calvo-Lobo C, Losa-Iglesias ME, Lopez-Del-Amo-Lorente A, Lopez-Lopez D. Stability of Three Different Sanitary Shoes on Healthcare Workers: A Cross-Sectional Study. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019 Jun 16;16(12):2126. doi: 10.3390/ijerph16122126. — View Citation

Stolt M, Katajisto J, Peltonen J, Suhonen R, Leino-Kilpi H. Development and testing of a new electronic foot health promotion programme on nurses' foot self-care. BMC Nurs. 2020 Apr 19;19:29. doi: 10.1186/s12912-020-00423-z. eCollection 2020. — View Citation

Stolt M, Miikkola M, Suhonen R, Leino-Kilpi H. Nurses' Perceptions of Their Foot Health: Implications for Occupational Health Care. Workplace Health Saf. 2018 Mar;66(3):136-143. doi: 10.1177/2165079917727011. Epub 2017 Aug 31. — View Citation

Stolt M, Suhonen R, Kielo E, Katajisto J, Leino-Kilpi H. Foot health of nurses-A cross-sectional study. Int J Nurs Pract. 2017 Aug;23(4). doi: 10.1111/ijn.12560. Epub 2017 Jun 19. — View Citation

Stolt M, Suhonen R, Puukka P, Viitanen M, Voutilainen P, Leino-Kilpi H. Nurses' knowledge of foot care in the context of home care: a cross-sectional correlational survey study. J Clin Nurs. 2015 Oct;24(19-20):2916-25. doi: 10.1111/jocn.12922. Epub 2015 Jul 14. — View Citation

Yan P, Li F, Zhang L, Yang Y, Huang A, Wang Y, Yao H. Prevalence of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders in the Nurses Working in Hospitals of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Pain Res Manag. 2017;2017:5757108. doi: 10.1155/2017/5757108. Epub 2017 Jul 13. — View Citation

* Note: There are 11 references in all — Click here to view all references

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Change in Podiatric Profile at 5 months	It relates to specific foot-related dynamic variables while standing or walking, illustrating the actual behaviour of the foot during activity. The podiatric profile is assessed through a pedography platform, which gives values of pressure (throughout time), exerted force, and contact areas of the foot.	Evaluated before (Month 0) and after (Month 5) the exposure (acute clinical settings).
Primary	Change in Foot Health at 5 months	Foot health relates to the observed clinical parameters, signs, and symptoms of this body part, namely skin, nails, and structure, and is evaluated through a subjective self-assessment Liker-type instrument with four dimensions related to general foot health.	Evaluated before (Month 0) and after (Month 5) the exposure (acute clinical settings).
Secondary	Foot Self-Care Knowledge	Self-care knowledge is assessed through a four-dimensional questionnaire, where specific interventions for the promotion and prevention of foot and ankle disorders are evaluated.	During the exposure time; between Month 0 and Month 5.
Secondary	Student's perceptions	Nursing student's perceptions on the influence of foot health in their quality of life during exposure time. It is evaluated through semi-structured interviews and focus groups.	After exposure time (Month 5).