Foot Health of Older People Living in the Community: Scoping Review

Abstract

 Background: Previous studies have shown a high prevalence of foot problems among community-dwelling older adults. This scoping review aims to explore the foot health of older people living in the community and to identify strategies to support foot health in older people.
 Methods: PubMed, Google Scholar, the online version of the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and the Japanese Nursing Association Library’s Latest Nursing Search Web were used to search for eligible publications related to foot health and strategies. Studies focusing on a variety of foot issues and strategies, including interventions and measurements, were included. Studies focusing on detailed anatomy and physiology, nutrition, and lower limb function were excluded.　
 Results: The search provided 339 studies, leading to the inclusion of 142 studies. The literature was classified into three categories: foot health issues, foot interventions, and measurements for assessment using inductive content analysis. The characteristics of foot health issues and strategies were identified. Comprehensive assessment led to identifying foot health needs, and appropriate strategies need to be implemented.
 Conclusion: Older people living in the community have many foot problems. Summarizing and identifying the available research evidence is essential for understanding global foot health issues. The findings of this review can serve as a basis for developing strategies to improve the foot health of community-dwelling older adults.