Musculoskeletal Research Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia.
J Foot Ankle Res. 2011 Oct 20;4(1):23. doi: 10.1186/1757-1146-4-23.
Foot problems are common in older people and are associated with impaired mobility and quality of life. However, the characteristics of foot problems in older Australians for whom English is a second language have not been evaluated.
One hundred and four community-dwelling people aged 64 to 90 years with disabling foot pain (according to the case definition of the Manchester Foot Pain and Disability Index, or MFPDI) were recruited from four Greek elderly citizens clubs in Melbourne, Australia. All participants completed a Greek language questionnaire consisting of general medical history, the Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form 36 (SF-36) questionnaire, the MFPDI, and specific questions relating to foot problems and podiatry service utilisation. In addition, all participants underwent a brief clinical foot assessment.
The MFPDI score ranged from 1 to 30 (median 14), out of a total possible score of 34. Women had significantly higher total MFPDI scores and MFPDI subscale scores. The MFPDI total score and subscale scores were significantly associated with most of the SF-36 subscale scores. The most commonly reported foot problem was difficulty finding comfortable shoes (38%), and the most commonly observed foot problem was the presence of hyperkeratotic lesions (29%). Only 13% of participants were currently receiving podiatry treatment, and 40% stated that they required more help looking after their feet. Those who reported difficulty finding comfortable shoes were more likely to be female, and those who required more help looking after their feet were more likely to be living alone and have osteoarthritis in their knees or back.
Foot problems appear to be common in older Greek Australians, have a greater impact on women, and are associated with reduced health-related quality of life. These findings are broadly similar to previous studies in English-speaking older people in Australia. However, only a small proportion of this sample was currently receiving podiatry treatment, and a substantial number stated that they required more help looking after their feet. To address this issue, steps need to be taken to increase awareness of podiatry services among older Greek Australians.
足部问题在老年人中很常见，与行动不便和生活质量下降有关。然而，对于那些以英语为第二语言的澳大利亚老年人，其足部问题的特征尚未得到评估。
从澳大利亚墨尔本的四个希腊老年公民俱乐部招募了 104 名年龄在 64 岁至 90 岁之间、有足部疼痛（根据曼彻斯特足部疼痛和残疾指数（MFPDI）的病例定义）且行动不便的社区居民。所有参与者都完成了一份希腊语问卷，其中包括一般病史、医疗结局研究短式 36 项健康调查（SF-36）问卷、MFPDI 以及与足部问题和足病科服务利用相关的特定问题。此外，所有参与者都接受了简短的临床足部评估。
MFPDI 评分范围为 1 至 30 分（中位数为 14 分），总分为 34 分。女性的 MFPDI 总分和各分量表得分明显更高。MFPDI 总分和各分量表得分与 SF-36 大部分分量表得分显著相关。最常见的足部问题是难以找到舒适的鞋子（38%），最常见的足部问题是存在过度角化病变（29%）。只有 13%的参与者正在接受足病科治疗，40%的参与者表示他们需要更多的足部护理帮助。那些报告难以找到舒适鞋子的人更可能是女性，而那些需要更多的足部护理帮助的人更可能是独居者，并且有膝关节或背部骨关节炎。
足部问题在老年希腊裔澳大利亚人中似乎很常见，对女性的影响更大，并且与健康相关的生活质量下降有关。这些发现与澳大利亚以英语为母语的老年人的先前研究大致相似。然而，该样本中只有一小部分人目前正在接受足病科治疗，相当一部分人表示他们需要更多的足部护理帮助。为了解决这个问题，需要采取措施提高老年希腊裔澳大利亚人对足病科服务的认识。
