The New Zealand podiatry profession – a workforce in crisis?

Abstract

Background This is the first study to explore workforce data from the Podiatrists Board of New Zealand. The study analysed data from an online survey which New Zealand podiatrists complete as part of their application for an Annual Practising Certificate. Methods Survey responses between 2015 and 2019 were analysed. Data was related to work setting, employment status, work hours, location, professional affiliations, and number of graduates entering practice. Survey data was downloaded by a second party who provide data security for the Podiatrists Board of New Zealand workforce data. All data supplied for analysis were deidentified and could not be re-linked to an individual practitioner. Results In 2019 there were 430 podiatrists who held an Annual Practising Certificate. Eighty percent of podiatrists who work in New Zealand are in private practice, with 8% employed in the public health sector. Podiatrist’s work is a mix of general podiatry, diabetes care and sports medicine. The majority are self-employed (40%) or business owners (19%). Approximately 40% work between 31 to 40 h per week and 46 to 50 weeks per year. The majority are female (67%) with most practising in the North Island (69%) and located in the Auckland region (33%). On average 76% of new graduates were issued an Annual Practising Certificate between 2015 and 2019. Conclusion The New Zealand podiatry profession is small and growing at a slow rate, consequently there is evidence of a workforce shortage. To maintain a per-capita ratio of podiatrists approximate to Australia and the United Kingdom an additional 578 podiatrists are required in the New Zealand workforce. There are not enough new graduate practitioners entering the workforce and once practising, the majority enter private practice in the face of limited public health employment opportunities.

How does the clinical practice of Aotearoa New Zealand podiatrists align with international guidelines for the prevention of diabetes-related foot disease? a cross-sectional survey

“…However, this response rate is approximately double that than the 8% reported by Quinton et al (15) in their similar study on diabetes-related foot assessment practices of podiatrists in Australia and slightly higher than Yuncken et al ( 29) who had a 10% response rate in a survey of podiatrists on the provision of education to people with diabetes. Additionally, previous research has identi ed that only a small percentage of the podiatry profession in NZ work primarily with people with diabetes on a daily basis (22%) (14) which may have contributed to the low response rate.…”

“…International guidelines also recognise that foot care provided by podiatrists is central to the prevention and management of DFD (13). In NZ, approximately 21% of podiatrists in NZ report they work with people with diabetes, including 80% of those working primarily in private practice and approximately 8% in public diabetes-related foot services (14). Foot services for people with diabetes is frequently split between preventative care for people at increased risk of DFD and specialist services for management of people with DFD.…”

How does the clinical practice of Aotearoa New Zealand podiatrists align with international guidelines for the prevention of diabetes‐related foot disease? A cross‐sectional survey

“…However, this response rate is approximately double that than the 8% reported by Quinton et al [15] in their similar study on diabetes‐related foot assessment practices of podiatrists in Australia and slightly higher than Yuncken et al [29] who had a 10% response rate in a survey of podiatrists on the provision of education to people with diabetes. Additionally, previous research has identified that only a small percentage of the podiatry profession in NZ work primarily with people with diabetes on a daily basis (22%) [14] which may have contributed to the low response rate. Finally, approximately 50% of the respondents to this survey were from Auckland compared to regional areas of NZ.…”

“…International guidelines also recognise that foot care provided by podiatrists is central to the prevention and management of DFD [13]. In NZ, approximately 21% of podiatrists report they work with people with diabetes, including 80% of those working primarily in private practice and approximately 8% in public diabetes-related foot services with the remainder in research or higher education settings [14]. Foot services for people with diabetes is frequently split between preventative care for people at increased risk of DFD and specialist services for management of people with DFD.…”

Recruitment and retention of the rural podiatry workforce in Aotearoa New Zealand: a qualitative descriptive study of podiatrist perceptions

“…There is currently limited research that has investigated the sustainability of the NZ podiatry workforce. Carroll et al, who analysed the NZ podiatry workforce data between 2015 and 2019 concluded that the NZ podiatry workforce is in crisis and demonstrated there were a smaller number of podiatrists working outside of major urban cities (Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch) [ 23 ]. However, this research provided no insight into the rural podiatry workforce.…”