Adherence to wearing removable cast walkers in patients with diabetes-related foot ulcers: A mixed methods investigation

Adults with diabetes-related foot ulcers (DFUs) are at high risk for frequent hospitalisation, non-traumatic amputation, and increased mortality rate. Offloading is the primary recommended treatment to manage DFUs. This research aimed to understand patients’ adherence to wearing removable offloading devices by conducting a mixed-methods investigation. The results revealed that patients with DFUs have low adherence to wearing their removable offloading devices. A combination of psychosocial, physiological, and environmental factors was identified to impact adherence. Therefore, clinicians should firstly adopt non-removable offloading devices. However, when removable offloading devices are needed, the adherence factors found in this research should be considered