Prosthetic device and service satisfaction, quality of life, and functional performance in lower limb prosthesis clients.
Oluwagbemiga O DadeMatthews, Jaimie A Roper, Adan Vazquez and 2 others
PMID 37870367WHAT IT FOUND
Only 56% of lower limb prosthesis users were satisfied with their device.
Satisfaction was linked to functional mobility and balance confidence, not just the prosthesis itself. Dissatisfaction stemmed from skin irritation, pain, and cost.
Key findings
0156% of participants were satisfied with their prosthetic device, with dissatisfaction primarily due to skin irritation, comfort, pain, and cost.
02Lower limb functional status (LEFS) and balance confidence (ABC scale) were significantly associated with satisfaction with both the prosthetic device and the provider service.
0363% of participants were satisfied with their clinical provider service, with dissatisfaction related to wait times, scheduling, and lack of involvement in decision-making.
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 cross-sectional design prevents determining causality between satisfaction and functional outcomes. Participants were recruited via snowball sampling, which may introduce bias if dissatisfied individuals were more motivated to participate. The study only included current prosthesis users, excluding those who abandoned their devices. The survey did not independently assess experiences with each prosthesis for bilateral amputees. The path analysis model had a slightly poor fit, though it remained relevant for estimating influences.
Declared interests
The study was funded by the Warrior Research Center. The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that improving the prosthetic device alone will increase satisfaction. The study shows that functional mobility and balance confidence are stronger predictors of satisfaction than the device's physical attributes or service quality alone.