Questionnaire survey of prosthetists and orthotists to determine challenges in the management of lower-limb orthoses from prescription to follow-up

Abstract

A questionnaire survey was conducted with the purpose to clarify the current status of follow-up of users of lower-limb orthoses by prosthetists and orthotists, and the collaboration with other professions related to lower-limb orthosis. The authors created an online questionnaire survey and distributed 913 invitations to participate in the survey to potential participants including 237 manufacturers nationwide, and analyzed the results obtained by simple tabulation. Responses were obtained from 173 participants. Sixty-six percent of the respondents answered that they lacked opportunities to visit the homes of orthosis users to check the state of usage. Ninety-two percent responded that they were unable to provide information regarding the lower-limb orthoses to care managers on a routine basis. The involvement of prosthetists and orthotists in the follow-up of lower-limb orthosis users was insufficient, suggesting a state of poor collaboration with other professionals such as care managers.