New RNAO guidelines focus on prevention and management of DFU with evidence-based care
The Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO) has released the latest edition of its best practice guideline (BPG), Diabetic Foot Ulcers: Prevention, Assessment, and Management (Third Edition), to better support individuals at risk of or living with diabetic foot ulcers (DFU).
The guideline offers updated evidence-based recommendations for healthcare providers and those affected by DFUs on prevention, assessment, and management strategies.
“Diabetic foot ulcers are one of the most common and serious complications of diabetes, and up to 34 percent of people with diabetes will develop a diabetic foot ulcer during their lifetime,” said Doris Grinspun, RNAO CEO.
To help nurses and other health providers address DFUs, the RNAO gathered an expert panel, which included a person living with diabetes, clinicians, researchers, and educators, to create this new edition.
Grinspun added, “The result is a new edition guideline that will continue to improve wellbeing and quality of life for many in Ontario, Canada, and globally.”
The guideline covers several key areas, including:
- Providing diabetic foot screening and education for those living with diabetes
- Assessing DFUs
- Collaborating with patients and their care partners to create individualized care plans based on evidence-informed management options
- Involving specialized wound care teams to support individuals at risk of or living with DFUs
- Incorporating virtual care platforms to supplement in-person services for DFU management
The BPG's interprofessional expert panel was co-chaired by Mariam Botros, CEO of Wounds Canada, and Kevin Woo, a professor at Queen’s University.
Botros highlighted the serious consequences of DFUs, stating, “Diabetic foot ulcers can lead to amputations, but four out of five amputations are preventable with proper care.”
Woo emphasized the guideline’s credibility, saying, “This BPG is based on RNAO's rigorous methodology and offers new evidence and practical insights for managing diabetic foot complications within a Canadian context. It also serves as a benchmark for policy change.”
The new BPG replaces two previous guidelines: Reducing Foot Complications for People with Diabetes (2007) and Assessment and Management of Foot Ulcers for People with Diabetes (2013). It is available for free download on RNAO's website.
RNAO’s Best Practice Guideline (BPG) Program, funded by Ontario's Ministry of Health, was launched in 1999, and has developed over 50 guidelines to date.
The Best Practice Spotlight Organization program, established in 2003, supports healthcare and academic institutions in implementing multiple RNAO guidelines. Currently, over 1,500 BPSOs exist in Ontario, Canada, and internationally.
