to greater levels of compliance with treatment and also may prove to be cost-effective in terms of the prevention of long-term biological, psychological and social complications. The issues raised by participants in the study were reported to the clinicians at the hospital by the research team and some minor changes in care were instigated immediately. For example, one participant who reported that her foot ulceration prevented her from showering or bathing was provided with a waterproof 'shoe' to enable her to shower and bathe without getting her feet wet. Concerns relating to psychosocial issues were tabled to be discussed with staff of the clinic. This article was originally published in the Journal of Tissue Viability 2003, Vol 13, No 1, pages 6-16. The copyright of this article remains with the Tissue Viability Society. References 1. Engel GL. The need for a new medical model: a challenge for biomedicine. Science 1977; 196 (4286): 129-36.