Dermatology within the UK podiatric literature: a content analysis (1989-2010)
Dermatology within the UK podiatric literature: a content analysis (1989-2010)
Background
Although dermatology, as a medical subject, has been a facet of the training and education of podiatrists for many years, it is, arguably, only in recent years that the speciality of podiatric dermatology has emerged within the profession. Some indication of this gradual development may be identified through a content analysis of the podiatric literature in the UK, spanning a 21 year timeframe.
Method
6 key professional journals were selected for content analysis in order to provide a picture of the emergence and development of podiatric dermatology over a period extending from 1989 to 2010. Both syntactical and thematic unitization were deployed in the analysis, revealing both manifest and latent content. Categories were devised using a prior coding, a codebook produced to define relevant concepts and category characteristics, and the coding scheme subject to an assessment of reliability.
Results
1611 units appeared in the 6 journals across a 21 year timeframe. 88%(n = 1417) occurred in one journal (Podiatry Now and its predecessors). Modal categories within all journals included course adverts (n = 673), commercial adverts (n = 562) and articles by podiatrists (n = 133). There was an overall rise from 40 per annum in 1989, to over 100 in 2010. A wider range of dermatological topics were addressed, ranging from fungal nail infections to melanoma.
Conclusions
It is evident from this analysis that there has been an increasing focus on dermatology as a topic within the main podiatric journals in the UK over the last 21 years, primarily reflecting a rise in commercial advertising and an increase in academic dermatology related publications. Whilst earlier publications tended to focus on warts and fungal infections, more recent publications address a broader spectrum of topics. Changes in prescribing rights may be relevant to these findings, as may the enhanced professional and regulatory body requirements on continuing professional development.
dermatology, podiatry, history, content analysis
Bristow, I.R.
f1974879-83d4-4944-8c4b-dddc51e71a22
Borthwick, A.M.
b4d1fa51-182d-4296-b5fe-5b7c32ef6f9d
24 May 2013
Bristow, I.R.
f1974879-83d4-4944-8c4b-dddc51e71a22
Borthwick, A.M.
b4d1fa51-182d-4296-b5fe-5b7c32ef6f9d
Bristow, I.R. and Borthwick, A.M.
(2013)
Dermatology within the UK podiatric literature: a content analysis (1989-2010).
Journal of Foot and Ankle Research, 6 (21).
(doi:10.1186/1757-1146-6-21).
(PMID:23705878)
Abstract
Background
Although dermatology, as a medical subject, has been a facet of the training and education of podiatrists for many years, it is, arguably, only in recent years that the speciality of podiatric dermatology has emerged within the profession. Some indication of this gradual development may be identified through a content analysis of the podiatric literature in the UK, spanning a 21 year timeframe.
Method
6 key professional journals were selected for content analysis in order to provide a picture of the emergence and development of podiatric dermatology over a period extending from 1989 to 2010. Both syntactical and thematic unitization were deployed in the analysis, revealing both manifest and latent content. Categories were devised using a prior coding, a codebook produced to define relevant concepts and category characteristics, and the coding scheme subject to an assessment of reliability.
Results
1611 units appeared in the 6 journals across a 21 year timeframe. 88%(n = 1417) occurred in one journal (Podiatry Now and its predecessors). Modal categories within all journals included course adverts (n = 673), commercial adverts (n = 562) and articles by podiatrists (n = 133). There was an overall rise from 40 per annum in 1989, to over 100 in 2010. A wider range of dermatological topics were addressed, ranging from fungal nail infections to melanoma.
Conclusions
It is evident from this analysis that there has been an increasing focus on dermatology as a topic within the main podiatric journals in the UK over the last 21 years, primarily reflecting a rise in commercial advertising and an increase in academic dermatology related publications. Whilst earlier publications tended to focus on warts and fungal infections, more recent publications address a broader spectrum of topics. Changes in prescribing rights may be relevant to these findings, as may the enhanced professional and regulatory body requirements on continuing professional development.
Text
Final Paper - Bristow & Borthwick.pdf
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More information
Published date: 24 May 2013
Keywords:
dermatology, podiatry, history, content analysis
Organisations:
Faculty of Health Sciences
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 353232
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/353232
ISSN: 1757-1146
PURE UUID: 4e658551-d889-4255-9ba6-778406f26cda
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Date deposited: 07 Aug 2013 15:24
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 14:03
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Author:
I.R. Bristow
Author:
A.M. Borthwick
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