Experiences of Māori with podiatry foot screening prior to Diabetic amputations.

Māori are seven times more likely to experience a diabetic related amputation than non-Māori. Podiatry foot screening is proven to decrease diabetic amputations by up to 70%. Although diabetic podiatry foot screening is available in Aotearoa, Māori are still experiencing amputations at a rate that is rising. I am a Diabetic Podiatrist with over 18 years' experience working in Māori communities, on marae and in rural areas for this time. I would like to investigate the experiences of Māori who have had diabetic amputations and explore the experience they had with their Podiatry foot screening. I am conducting this research using kaupapa Māori methodology. For research that involves Māori as participants, it is important that the methodology used is Kaupapa Māori that is conducted by Māori, for Māori, to create better outcomes for Māori. I have completed a Masters in Health Science and am excited to be completing my Doctorate Health Science.