A research priority setting for ankle-foot orthosis care in the Netherlands; a survey among rehabilitation specialists, orthotists, and orthotic users.
Niels F J Waterval, Fieke S Koopman, Frans Nollet and 1 others
PMID 41248545WHAT IT FOUND
Clinicians prioritized research on AFO properties and gait effects, while users prioritized comfort, fitting, and shoe compatibility.
There was no overlap in priorities between professionals and patients, indicating a gap between clinical focus and user experience.
Key findings
01Health care professionals and AFO users identified no overlapping research needs, with professionals focusing on clinical effectiveness and users on practical fit.
02Rehabilitation specialists and orthotists ranked the effects of AFO properties on gait as a top priority for future research.
03AFO users ranked improving AFO-shoe fitting, the ability to test different AFOs before provision, and AFO comfort as their most important research needs.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study is limited to the Dutch healthcare system, so priorities may differ in other countries with different provision models. Response rates for orthotists and AFO users could not be calculated, and the second survey had a small sample size, especially among orthotists (n=7). The survey was only available in Dutch, excluding non-Dutch speakers and potentially limiting cultural diversity in the responses. Self-selection bias is likely, as those with a strong interest in AFO care were more motivated to respond.
Declared interests
The work was supported by a grant from ZonMW (grant number: 10310032110004). The authors declared no other conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret these priorities as evidence that one group's concerns are more valid than the other's. The lack of overlap highlights a disconnect in perspective, not a hierarchy of importance. Also, do not assume these findings apply to clinical populations outside the Netherlands or to patients who do not speak Dutch.
Summarised by AI from the full paper, without a clinician reviewing it. Check it against the source before it changes what you do. Read it on PubMed →