Priority 14 from the Foot Health PSP

UNCERTAINTY: Would the early assessment of foot health in school age children by health care practitioners, inform future management of pathology (including potential foot deformity/skin and nail problems) in the UK / Republic of Ireland? (JLA PSP Priority 14)
Overall ranking 14
JLA question ID 0092/14
Explanatory note Foot problems can potentially begin at an early age. The concept of foot health screening, similar to checks that are undertaken by Health Visitors in early years and schoolage children could be a method by which such foot problems could be monitored and managed more effectively from an early age in order to prevent more significant pathology later in life that is then more difficult and costly to treat. There is no current research in relation to foot health screening in children. Therefore, the implementation of an early years /schoolchild foot health screening programme requires research to decide whether such an approach is feasible and if it has the potential to reduce the risks of development of foot pathologies in later life .
Evidence

No evidence from systematic review found

Health Research Classification System category Generic health relevance
Extra information provided by this PSP
Original uncertainty examples Foot health screening from birth ... could this prevent foot problems in the future (early intervention and early education - mirroring how teeth are monitored) ~ Should there be free school based screening to identify, treat and prevent foot related disorders like biomechanical problems, verrucae and circulatory issues? ~ Would it be beneficial to introduce a child foot screening programme similar to sight and hearing screening?
Submitted by Healthcare professional x 9, Patient x 2, Other x 1
PSP information
PSP unique ID 0092
PSP name Foot Health
Total number of uncertainties identified by this PSP. 30 (To see a full list of all uncertainties identified, please see the detailed spreadsheet held on the JLA website)
Date of priority setting workshop 26 September 2019