Development of a foot care model to determine the risk of foot problems among homeless adults in Canada

Abstract

Homelessness impacts people in various ways, including equitable access to healthcare, and that homelessness can occur regardless of age, sex and other determinants. Homelessness is a physical, psychological, social and economic experience that affects people's access to equitable healthcare services. While studies have examined homeless individuals' healthcare needs (Bryant et al., 2011;Campbell et al., 2015;Lamanna et al., 2017), few studies have investigated the foot conditions of homeless individuals in Canadian cities where foot care services are limited. The aim of the study was to assess homeless people's foot care, develop recommendations for clinical practice and advocate for improved healthcare services. | BACKG ROU N DAt least 235,000 Canadians experience homelessness each year, with about 35,000 Canadians homeless at any given time; 27.3% of homeless individuals are women, while 18.7% are youths (Gaetz, 2014). A report on homeless individuals in British Columbia (B.C.) province found a total of 7,655 homeless individuals, of which

Mediators of psychosocial well-being for immigrant women living with breast cancer in Canada: a critical ethnography

“…Other studies identified culturally specific resources, such as support for immigrant women with breast cancer, as a need. [22,48] In a study of 25 breast cancer survivors in Mexico City, Hubbeling et al [40] published findings related to normalcy. Their participants continued to work throughout their treatments to maintain normalcy.…”

“…[20,21] Studies have shown that the cultural awareness of health care providers and the limited language proficiency of immigrant women are significant factors in the deployment of successful health care. [22,23] Immigrant women with breast cancer often experience low self-esteem and autonomy, including shame, stigma, fear of cancer recurrence, and overall anxiety. [24] Women feel alienated when seeking treatment because of communication and health literacy barriers [25] that negatively affect their relationships and resilience.…”

Responding to foot health needs of people experiencing homelessness: the role of a publicly funded community‐based podiatry service

“…The decision to access podiatric care can be complicated for anyone; as for any health behaviour, it requires people to perceive a problem, believe it can be helped by podiatry and know how to access podiatric care [38]. People experiencing homelessness self‐report fewer foot conditions than are detected clinically [39], and it has been suggested that some people are reluctant to attend a podiatrist in particular because of embarrassment about the state of their feet which may be exacerbated those who are experiencing homelessness [23]. This makes simplifying pathways to seeing a podiatrist critical.…”

Describing the development and implementation of a novel collaborative multidisciplinary approach to deliver foot health supports for individuals experiencing homelessness and its outcomes

“…Foot problems are a common health issue, affecting between three and 27% of the general population [ 4 – 6 ] and, for individuals experiencing homelessness, affecting between nine and 72% [ 7 , 8 ]. Most common foot problems in this group are tinea pedis, foot pain, functional limitations with walking, and improperly-fitting shoes [ 7 ].…”

“…Most common foot problems in this group are tinea pedis, foot pain, functional limitations with walking, and improperly-fitting shoes [ 7 ]. Unique issues face this population including wearing inappropriate shoes, prolonged contact with moisture, long days of standing/walking in wet shoes and exposure to extreme cold, resulting in poor foot health [ 8 ].…”