Table 4.
Final ‘top-10’ research questions for health professionals after Round 3 (n=39*), compared with rank from overall sample
| Health professional rank | Overall sample rank | Research question | DFD category | UKCRC HRCS category | Total score |
| 1 | How can we improve outcomes of diabetes-related foot complications for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, particularly those living in remote communities? | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health | Management of diseases and conditions | 214 | |
| 2 | 1 | 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 | 212 |
| 3 | 4 | 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 | 188 |
| 4 | 3 | 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 | 185 |
| 5 | 6 | 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 | 177 |
| 6 | What are the most effective treatment approaches to help people with diabetes adhere to using their recommended offloading devices? | Offloading | Management of diseases and conditions | 167 | |
| 7 | How can state and federal governments be engaged to better fund the community care of people with, or at risk of, diabetes-related foot disease? | Health services | Health and social care services research | 167 | |
| 8 | Do standardized clinical pathways improve the consistency of care for people with diabetes-related foot disease? | Translational research | Management of diseases and conditions | 158 | |
| 9 | What is the best duration for antibiotics in the management of osteomyelitis? | Infection | Management of diseases and conditions | 125 | |
| 10 | What are the amputation rates in different local government areas in Australia? | Epidemiology | Health and social care services research | 116 |
*Group consolidated 36 health professionals, 2 researchers/academics and 1 industry.
DFD, diabetes-related foot disease; UKCRC HRCS, UK Clinical Research Collaboration Health Research Classification System.