Unidades de pie diabético en España: conociendo la realidad mediante el uso de un cuestionario / Diabetic foot units in Spain: Knowing the facts using a questionnaire

OBJETIVO: Conocer el número de unidades de pie diabético (UPD) que existen en España, especialidades que las integran y funcionamiento, así como la cobertura poblacional de las mismas. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: El Grupo Español del Pie Diabético (GEPID) elaboró y consensuó un cuestionario basándose en las recomendaciones organizativas para una clínica del pie diabético propuestas por el Consenso Internacional del Pie Diabético (CIPD) 2011. El cuestionario fue enviado desde octubre a diciembre de 2012, a los miembros de 3 sociedades científicas integradas por profesionales implicados en la atención de personas con diabetes mellitus. Se estimó la cobertura poblacional de los centros respondedores y de las UPD usando el censo poblacional 2012. RESULTADOS: Se recibieron 75 cuestionarios, 64 de ellos procedentes de hospitales generales, que supusieron el 13% de los hospitales generales del Sistema Nacional de Salud y se estimó que daban cobertura al 43% de la población censada en España. Respondieron que existía UPD 34 centros, estimándose que daban cobertura a un 25% de la población censada. El número de diferentes profesionales que integran las UPD es de 6,3 ± 2,7 miembros. El análisis del tipo de UPD permitió identificar 3 modelos: mínimo 5 (14,7%), intermedio 20 (58,8%) y de excelencia 9 (26,5%). CONCLUSIONES: El número de UPD comunicadas en este estudio en España es escaso, permitiendo la atención como mucho de uno de cada 4 pacientes con diabetes mellitus. Se precisa mejorar la organización del cuidado del pie diabético en España, mediante la creación de UPD y mejorando las ya existentes

OBJECTIVE: To ascertain the number of diabetic foot units (DFUs) in Spain, the specialists working in them, and the population covered by them. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The Spanish Group on the Diabetic Foot (SGDF) prepared and agreed a questionnaire based on the recommendations of the 2011 International Consensus on the Diabetic Foot (ICDF). From October to December 2012, the questionnaire was sent to members of three scientific societies formed by professionals involved in the care of patients with diabetes mellitus. Population coverage of the responding centers and DFUs was estimated using the 2012 population census. RESULTS: Seventy five questionnaires were received, 64 of them from general hospitals, which accounted for 13% of the general hospitals of the National Health System. It was calculated that they provided coverage to 43% of the population. Thirty four centers answered that they had a DFU. Specialized diabetic foot care was only provided to 25% of the population. The number of different professionals working at diabetic foot units was 6.3 ± 2.7. Classification of DFUs based on their complexity was as follows: 5 basic units (14.7%), 20 intermediate units (58.8%), and 9 excellence units (26.5%). CONCLUSIONS: The number of DFUs reported in this study in Spain is low, and allow for foot care of only one out of every four patients with diabetes. Spanish health system needs to improve diabetic foot care by creating new DFUs and improving the existing ones

Diabetic foot units in Spain: knowing the facts using a questionnaire.

OBJECTIVE: To ascertain the number of diabetic foot units (DFUs) in Spain, the specialists working in them, and the population covered by them. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The Spanish Group on the Diabetic Foot (SGDF) prepared and agreed a questionnaire based on the recommendations of the 2011 International Consensus on the Diabetic Foot (ICDF). From October to December 2012, the questionnaire was sent to members of three scientific societies formed by professionals involved in the care of patients with diabetes mellitus. Population coverage of the responding centers and DFUs was estimated using the 2012 population census. RESULTS: Seventy five questionnaires were received, 64 of them from general hospitals, which accounted for 13% of the general hospitals of the National Health System. It was calculated that they provided coverage to 43% of the population. Thirty four centers answered that they had a DFU. Specialized diabetic foot care was only provided to 25% of the population. The number of different professionals working at diabetic foot units was 6.3±2.7. Classification of DFUs based on their complexity was as follows: 5 basic units (14.7%), 20 intermediate units (58.8%), and 9 excellence units (26.5%). CONCLUSIONS: The number of DFUs reported in this study in Spain is low, and allow for foot care of only one out of every four patients with diabetes. Spanish health system needs to improve diabetic foot care by creating new DFUs and improving the existing ones.