FootForward has validated the training needs of healthcare professionals, universities, patients, families and technology experts in order to design a training programme tailored to the circumstances of both countries and, in particular, their vulnerable communities.
Diabetic foot does not always begin with a medical emergency, but with a small warning sign: a painless wound, a check-up that comes too late, a lack of information about self-care or difficulty accessing specialist professionals.
In vulnerable communities, these signs may go unnoticed for far too long. Before designing its training activities, the European FootForward project therefore set out to answer a fundamental question: what knowledge and skills do professionals, universities, patients, families and technology experts really need to improve diabetic foot prevention and treatment in Colombia and Peru?
Listening before designing
To answer this question, FootForward carried out a participatory process to validate training needs. The study combined an analysis of the existing educational provision, a structured needs assessment and seven focus groups involving 96 people from the healthcare, academic, technology, industry, social and family spheres.
The work was led by Inescop and implemented on the ground by the project’s Latin American partner universities: Pontificia Universidad Javeriana and Universidad de la Costa in Colombia, and Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú and Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia in Peru.
The result is an evidence base built on the experiences and priorities of those who work with, research or are directly affected by this issue. Their contributions will guide FootForward’s future capacity-building programme.
Two countries, one shared vision
Although Colombia and Peru have different healthcare and educational contexts, participants agreed on one essential point: there is a need to move away from a model focused primarily on treating complications and towards one based on prevention, early detection and ongoing follow-up.
The validated needs are grouped into seven key areas:
Alongside technical knowledge, participants also highlighted the importance of strengthening practical skills related to communication, teamwork, innovation, decision-making and person-centred care.
📌Key fact:
A total of 96 participants from Colombia and Peru directly contributed to validating the training priorities that will underpin FootForward’s future training programme.
Moving from a reactive to a preventive model
One of the clearest messages emerging from the validation process is that diabetic foot care continues, in many cases, to focus on treating complications after they have already developed.
The main challenges identified include the limited implementation of prevention programmes, late diagnosis, fragmented care across different levels of the healthcare system, a shortage of specialist professionals and geographical inequalities in access to healthcare services.
These difficulties particularly affect rural areas and communities with fewer resources. The results therefore emphasise the need to equip professionals with tools that enable them to identify at-risk patients, assess the foot systematically, recognise warning signs and intervene before serious complications arise.
Educating people with diabetes and their families is another essential component. To play an active role in prevention, they need clear, practical and appropriately tailored information about daily foot care, hygiene, footwear selection, recognising warning signs and knowing when to seek specialist healthcare.
Technology and therapeutic footwear: from innovation to practice
The validation process also highlighted the potential of digital technologies to improve diabetic foot prevention, diagnosis and follow-up. Telemedicine, monitoring systems, artificial intelligence, pressure sensors, wearable technologies and other digital resources can support earlier and more personalised care.
However, having access to technology is not enough. For these tools to make a real difference, they must be accompanied by training, clear protocols and appropriate integration into clinical practice. They must also be understandable and acceptable to both professionals and patients.
Therapeutic footwear, biomechanics and pressure-offloading solutions are another of FootForward’s distinctive priorities. Participants identified the need to improve knowledge of footwear prescription and fitting, biomechanical assessment, plantar pressure redistribution, customised insoles and monitoring patients’ use of these solutions.
This field requires close collaboration between healthcare professionals, engineers, biomechanics specialists and footwear companies to develop effective, accessible solutions tailored to each person’s needs.
A multidisciplinary response
The challenges identified are not solely clinical. They are also related to the organisation of care systems, insufficient coordination between disciplines, the limited availability of specialist training and the social or geographical barriers that restrict access to prevention.
For this reason, FootForward will adopt a multidisciplinary approach, bringing together healthcare professionals, academic staff, postgraduate students, researchers, technology experts, footwear specialists, patients, families and community organisations.
The aim is to enable each group to contribute its knowledge and collaborate in creating training solutions that are more realistic, accessible and suited to each context.
The next step: turning needs into training
The results of Task 2.1 will now provide the basis for the project’s next phases. The validated needs will guide the development of:
- A competence-based curriculum for academic staff at universities in Colombia and Peru
- Specialist courses, digital resources and online training activities for healthcare professionals, biomedical engineers and technology experts
- Educational sessions and awareness-raising activities for patients, families and vulnerable communities
The forthcoming activities will combine practical training, digital content and collaborative spaces involving the different stakeholders.
Through this validation process, FootForward confirms that improving diabetic foot care requires much more than simply transferring knowledge. It requires listening, adapting training, connecting disciplines and bringing prevention closer to those who need it most.
Join the FootForward community
The project invites professionals, universities, healthcare institutions, associations, companies, community organisations and anyone interested in diabetic foot prevention and treatment to join its stakeholder community.
Joining this network provides an opportunity to keep up to date with the project’s progress, access future activities and specialist resources, take part in events and contribute to an international initiative aimed at improving the quality of life of people with diabetes, particularly those living in vulnerable communities.
Join the FootForward community and follow the project’s next steps
