A team from the University of Salford, England, School of Health Sciences has launched a national survey to discover which health professions provide foot orthotics. The team also wants to know what type of patients and devices are involved. The survey is open until June.
The aim of the survey is to learn about the variations between individual clinicians and professional groups in the use of foot orthotics, how skills in using orthotics are developed, and how research informs practice.
Chris Nester, BSc (Hon), PhD, a podiatrist and professor who heads the research program, said, “We are pretty convinced that foot orthoses are a good intervention, but the NHS [National Health Service] is struggling to understand where they are provided. While podiatry and orthotists have a strong voice in this field, other professions are not represented.”
Last November, NHS England called for local commissioners to improve how orthotics are provided. It also issued a set of guidance and resources to help them. Its advice included looking at case studies to inform the most appropriate commissioning model for an area, and involving service users in performance reviews of the service.
