There is emerging evidence that diabetic foot complications greatly affect the quality of life of patients and cause people a significant burden to life. A diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is associated with deterioration the physical, mental and social life quality. Given the detrimental effect foot ulcers have on patients, it is essential that quality of life metrics be evaluated among DFU patients. To what degree can diabetic foot ulcers affect the quality of life of patients? What are the facilitators and barriers to an improved quality of life?~To gain insight into these questions Podimetrics researchers will be conducting a longitudinal study among patients suffering with a DFU. The general purpose of the study is to evaluate the current quality of life of DFU patients from the subject perspective in various domains including physical functioning, general health perception, psychological, social functioning, vitality and role limitations. The study will also explore the relationships between HRQoL and usage of the Podimetrics System. Improved understanding of patients' subjective evaluation of their quality of life, and the role of the Podimetrics System, will help clinicians provide better care for these patients.~A cohort of DFU patients will be recruited upon providing informed consent. Participant lifestyle and ulcer status information is collected by a background survey. HRQoL is assessed at baseline, 6 month and 12 month using questionnaires. The investigators intend to use two types of questionnaires for HRQoL evaluation in this study: one generic questionnaire, SF-36, which addresses general quality of life issues, and one specific questionnaire, DFS-SF, which addresses issues specific to diabetic foot diseases, such as ulcer severity and impact of ulcer care.
The Patient Empowerment Study is an observational longitudinal study among adults with diabetic foot ulcer (DFU). The scope of this study is to better understand how a patient's DFU disease process and usage of the Podimetrics System can impact patient health-related quality of life. Health-related quality of life will be measured by both the generic 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) questionnaire and the ulcer-specific Diabetic Foot Ulcer Scale Short Form (DFS-SF) questionnaire.