There have been thousands of articles written, and many case studies conducted on diabetic foot treatments. We obviously know, one of the best preventative measures is through diabetic shoes. There are many different case studies conducted on the best ways to improve effectiveness of diabetic footwear, but at the end of the day patient adherence is going to lead to the best results.
In theory, it should seem simple for someone to want to take care of their feet, but this can be a lot easier said than done for a myriad of reasons. Let’s take a look at a few easy ways to help improve patient adherence, which will likely lead to the outcomes we desire.
This seems simple enough, but as you see on a daily basis, there are a lot of ugly shoes out there. I know personally, I am less likely to wear a pair of shoes I don’t like, regardless if it is helpful for me. Finding shoes that best fit your patient’s aesthetic tastes is only going to help them buy into your treatment plan.
Comfort is key. It’s pretty obvious that people want to wear something that feels good. Ill-fitting or improperly fit footwear is going to lead to patients putting on something else, which is not what we want. Making sure footwear is properly fit to your patient before they leave your office is best.
Giving your patients an answer to their “whys” is going to give them a better understanding of why you are telling them to do what your suggesting. This starts with education. Teaching your patients about the benefits of their shoes, and why they are helpful to them will better allow them to buy in to your treatments. In addition, provide them with any of our collateral materials.
As you can see, none of my suggestions are earth shattering concepts; however, they are very ways to steer your patients in the right direction when it comes to adherence. At the end of the day, everyone needs a little coaching, even if it is for their own benefit.
If you have absolutely any questions on practitioner strategies to increase diabetic shoe patient compliance, please don't hesitate to contact us at 1-844-637-4637 or email info@anodyneshoes.com.