Survey of seasonal footwear choices for people with inflammatory arthritis in Australia : a quantitative approach

Aim: Foot problems are prevalent in inflammatory arthritis (IA). Typical IA foot deformities can make finding comfortable and supportive footwear challenging. Therapeutic footwear has shown to improve pain and function for people with IA and foot problems, but adherence to this footwear type remains low. Many footwear studies focus on specific IA conditions and populations in Europe. There are currently no studies exploring climatic influence on footwear selection in people with IA in Australia. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the influence of seasonal factors on footwear types worn and associated important footwear characteristics for people with IA in Australia. Method: A cross-sectional observational study using online and paper surveys was conducted. The survey had 16 closed-item and 6 open-ended questions focusing on current foot pain and disability, preferred footwear styles for summer and winter, and favoured footwear selection factors. Closed-item questions were analysed descriptively. Ethics number: H12226. Results: The survey had 73 respondents with most being NSW-based females, aged 66-75 years with long-standing rheumatoid arthritis. Use of therapeutic footwear was low (n = 6). Enclosed footwear usage was high regardless of localised climate and season (n = 79, winter, n = 61, summer). A high proportion of participants reported using sandals (n = 39) during summer. Features of comfort, cushioning, support, and fit were indicated to be important factors that influenced footwear selection. Many participants (n = 49) reported difficulty finding comfortable, aesthetically pleasing footwear suitable for the season. More than 50% of respondents reported difficulty finding insole supportive sandals and consequently current summer footwear was too hot and uncomfortable. Conclusion: Seasonal factors influence footwear choices for people with IA in Australia. However, comfort and support are important characteristics influencing footwear selection regardless of seasonal change. Currently available footwear choices meeting seasonal requirements and favoured characteristics should be considered when providing footwear education to people with IA in Australia.