Table 2.
Final ‘top-10’ research questions for the whole sample after Round 3 (n=69) comparing the rank in consumer or health professional subgroups
| Overall sample rank | Consumer rank | Health professional rank | Research question | DFD category | UKCRC HRCS category | Final score |
| 1 | 2 | What are the health and cost benefits of providing government-funded, multidisciplinary high-risk foot services for optimal management of people with diabetes-related foot disease compared with usual care? | Economics | Health and social care services research | 452 | |
| 2 | 4 | What are the most effective treatment options for pain associated with diabetes-related peripheral neuropathy? | Peripheral neuropathy | Management of diseases and conditions | 431 | |
| 3 | 4 | What are the most effective educational programs to improve self-care practices to prevent foot disease in people with diabetes? | Education | Management of diseases and conditions | 430 | |
| 4 | 3 | What are the long-term outcomes (wound recurrence, osteomyelitis recurrence) of osteomyelitis in people with diabetes, when treated conservatively/medically rather than surgically? | Infection | Management of diseases and conditions | 413 | |
| 5 | 1 | Can established peripheral neuropathy be reversed, and if so how? | Peripheral neuropathy | Etiology | 410 | |
| 6 | 5 | Is there a cost benefit of implementing a program to prevent diabetes-related foot ulcers in high-risk populations compared with the cost of treating diabetes-related foot ulcers? | Economics | Health and social care services research | 381 | |
| 7 | What smart technology can be integrated into the care of people with diabetes-related foot ulcers that will help improve healing time? | Technology | Evaluation of treatments and therapeutic interventions | 332 | ||
| 8 | 8 | Is exercise beneficial in reducing the risk of diabetes-related foot complication? | Exercise | Evaluation of treatments and therapeutic interventions | 327 | |
| 9 | What is the effectiveness of diet supplementation with micronutrients such as vitamins, protein, minerals and amino acids in improving healing rates in people with diabetes-related foot disease or ulcers? | Nutrition | Evaluation of treatments and therapeutic interventions | 322 | ||
| 10 | Is exercise safe for people with diabetes-related foot complications? | Exercise | Evaluation of treatments and therapeutic interventions | 297 |
DFD, diabetes-related foot disease; UKCRC HRCS, UK Clinical Research Collaboration Health Research Classification System.