Browsing by Author "Chen, Robert Chien-Chung"

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    Determination of Comfort and Performance Properties of Upper Materials for Diabetic Footwear Construction
    (Conference paper delivered at the Materials Science and Technology Society of Nigeria on 23rd August, 2014, 2014-08-23) Chen, Robert Chien-Chung; Eujin Pei; Higgett, N.; Tagang, Jerry
    This work investigates comfort and performance properties of selected shoe upper materials manufactured in Nigeria for their suitability for diabetic footwear construction. The research was carried out using approved methods of analysis as specified by the International Union of the Society of Leather Technologies and Chemists Official Methods for Physical Analysis (1996). Key parameters studied include thickness, water vapour permeability, tensile strength etc, with recorded values of up to 2.23mm, 25.33mg/cm2/h and 23N/mm2 respectively. The results obtained were found to be similar to the findings of previous studies and in conformity to set standards. The results highlighted that diabetic footwear made with selected upper leathers could improve foot health of the diabetic foot. The paper also highlights the need for further research using composite materials for the manufacture of the upper parts and lining, soling materials and insoles so as to provide the best combination of material and comfort needs to improve the quality of life of people suffering from diabetes.
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    Diabetic footwear: materials choices and design.
    (LAP Lambert Academic Publishing, 2016) Tagang, Jerry; Chen, Robert Chien-Chung; Pei, Eujin
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    A MPCDM-enabled product concept design via user involvement approach.
    (Sage, 2011) Wang, C. H.; Chen, Robert Chien-Chung
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    The role of appropriate footwear in the management of diabetic foot: Perspective of clinicians in a low resource setting
    (Archives of International Surgery, 2014) Pei, Eujin; Chen, Robert Chien-Chung; Higgett, N.; Abdulrasheed, I.; Tagang, I. J; Ismail, D. L.
    The use of appropriate footwear among patients with diabetes mellitus and those with diabetic foot problems has been documented to play a vital role in the prevention and treatment of the established foot disease. However, there is a paucity of literature on the role of clinicians in ensuring appropriate footwear among patients with diabetes mellitus. This paper explores current practice in the use of appropriate footwear in patients with diabetes mellitus among clinicians in Kaduna state, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A self-administered structured questionnaire was developed. The questionnaire was divided into two sections: demographic (clinical area of specialization, number of years in practice) and footwear questionnaire. The footwear questionnaire focused on three themes: diabetic foot problems encountered, type of footwear worn, and the role of footwear in the prevention of diabetic foot complications. Data were processed and analyzed using Microsoft Excel 2007. Results: Almost all the participants, 41 (91%), reported that foot ulcers could be related to inappropriate footwear. Most participants, 37 (82%), reported that ill-fitting footwear could be a major problem that leads to amputation. The shoe type reported to be most frequently worn by men were sandals (35%), slippers (26%), and half shoes (17%). The three commonest shoe types that women were reported to wear were slippers (45%), sandals (24%), and half shoes (18%). Conclusion: This study shows that the use of appropriate footwear in the prevention of diabetic foot complications is suboptimal. It is important that healthcare professionals support and stimulate research in establishing a diabetic footwear program.
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    Sustainable Innovation: Footwear Material Choices and Design for People Suffering with Diabetes
    (Materials Science and Technology Society of Nigeria, 2013) I.J. Tagang; Chen, Robert Chien-Chung; Pei, Eujin; Higgett, N.
    Recent research has shown that foot complications are common in people with diabetes, with this being more prominent in less developed countries (Forlee, 2010; Rayman 2004). As a result, there has been an increase in multidisciplinary foot-care teams being set up across the world to advise patients on the proper type of footwear to use or to avoid (Boulton, 2005; Tyrrell, 2009). However, in Africa and other less developed countries, there is still lack of awareness of foot care among patients and health care providers, leading to further foot complications (Abbas, 2007). To resolve this, the International Diabetes Federation and the International Working Group on the Diabetic Foot (2005) advocate new research so as to collect data on diabetic foot complications and to identify appropriate preventative measures. Previous studies showed that improper footwear is probably the reason for high foot ulceration and amputation among diabetics; and many foot problems could still be potentially averted by wearing appropriate shoes (Caselli, 2011; Vernon, 2007). As a result, the authors argue that proper footwear is an essential part of rehabilitative care and an important consideration in the clinical management of diabetic foot disorders. The aim of this work is to first explore current medical knowledge and practice concerning the use of orthopaedic footwear to manage diabetic foot problems, particularly in Nigeria. This survey was conducted from August to September 2012, involving three government hospitals at Kaduna State in Nigeria. A framework consisting of participants selection criteria, a Standard Operating Procedure and research ethical consent form was prepared and used as a guide during the survey. Six doctors from the three hospitals were interviewed by means of structured questionnaires and the outcome was analyzed. This approach was used by the authors because of its potential to elicit a wide range of information from the medical experts despite the small sampling. The pilot survey showed that the percentage of diabetic patients suffering from foot problems ranged from 10% to 48%. Five out of the six doctors indicated that they encountered diabetic patients with foot deformities like charcot foot, hammer toes, ulcers, etc. that regular footwear was unable to accommodate. The authors also found that no footwear programme or service has been made available in Nigeria, of which could potentially educate or improve diabetic foot complications. In addition, the provision of protective footwear through retail channels is also completely non-existent, and medical practitioners did not have the knowledge of specialist footwear manufacturers or technicians in the country. More importantly, the doctors would welcome such a programme or service to improve their patients’ foot condition. As a pioneering survey, these findings provide areas for future research that could potentially increase awareness among health care providers in Nigeria for diabetic patients suffering from foot complications. Strategies and plans on how the authors will conduct further research, including a framework to design and develop comfortable and affordable footwear is also proposed.