Predictors of barefoot plantar pressure during walking in patients with diabetes, peripheral neuropathy and a history of ulceration.

Objective: Elevated dynamic plantar foot pressures significantly increase the risk of foot ulceration in diabetes mellitus. The aim was to determine which factors predict plantar pressures in a population of diabetic patients who are at high-risk of foot ulceration.

Methods: Patients with diabetes, peripheral neuropathy and a history of ulceration were eligible for inclusion in this cross sectional study.

Risk factors for plantar foot ulcer recurrence in neuropathic diabetic patients.

Objective: Recurrence of plantar foot ulcers is a common and major problem in diabetes but not well understood. Foot biomechanics and patient behavior may be important. The aim was to identify risk factors for ulcer recurrence and to establish targets for ulcer prevention.

Effect of custom-made footwear on foot ulcer recurrence in diabetes: a multicenter randomized controlled trial.

Objective: Custom-made footwear is the treatment of choice to prevent foot ulcer recurrence in diabetes. This footwear primarily aims to offload plantar regions at high ulcer risk. However, ulcer recurrence rates are high.

Adherence to wearing prescription custom-made footwear in patients with diabetes at high risk for plantar foot ulceration.

Objective: Prescription custom-made footwear can only be effective in preventing diabetic foot ulcers if worn by the patient. Particularly, the high prevalence of recurrent foot ulcers focuses the attention on adherence, for which objective data are nonexisting. We objectively assessed adherence in patients with high risk of ulcer recurrence and evaluated what determines adherence.

New monitoring technology to objectively assess adherence to prescribed footwear and assistive devices during ambulatory activity.

Objective: To assess the validity and feasibility of a new temperature-based adherence monitor to measure footwear use.

Design: Observational study.

Setting: University medical center and participants' homes.

Direct medical costs of adverse events in Dutch hospitals.

Background: Up to now, costs attributable to adverse events (AEs) and preventable AEs in the Netherlands were unknown. We assessed the total direct medical costs associated with AEs and preventable AEs in Dutch hospitals to gain insight in opportunities for cost savings.

Methods: Trained nurses and physicians retrospectively reviewed 7,926 patient records in 21 hospitals.

Design of a retrospective patient record study on the occurrence of adverse events among patients in Dutch hospitals.

Background: Various international studies have shown that a substantial number of patients suffer from injuries or even die as a result of care delivered in hospitals. The occurrence of injuries among patients caused by health care management in Dutch hospitals has never been studied systematically. Therefore, an epidemiological study was initiated to determine the incidence, type and impact of adverse events among discharged and deceased patients in Dutch hospitals.