Understanding decision-making in prosthetic rehabilitation by prosthetists and people with lower limb amputation: a qualitative study.
Chelsey B Anderson, Andrew J Kittelson, Shane R Wurdeman and 4 others
PMID 35389313WHAT IT FOUND
Prosthetists saw prosthesis design as their key decision, while people with limb loss focused on goals, comfort, and appearance.
Trust and education mattered, but early design options were often not clear to users.
Key findings
01Prosthetists prioritized prosthesis design decisions, while most prosthesis users did not recognize their own involvement in design decisions, particularly for a first prosthesis.
02Prosthesis users relied on trust and education from prosthetists, but often did not connect their goals to specific prosthesis design options.
03As prosthesis users gained experience using a prosthesis, they became more aware of options, understood the rehabilitation process better, and were more willing to participate in design decisions.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
Prosthetists and prosthesis users were recruited primarily from two clinic locations, so the findings may not represent other locations or business structures. Only prosthetists and prosthesis users were interviewed, so physical therapists, physicians, caregivers, and family members were not represented. The study identified decisions and factors from interviews; it did not test whether any decision-making approach changes patient outcomes.
The easy way to misread this
Do not treat this as evidence that a shared decision-making approach improves prosthetic use, satisfaction, or function. The study described participants' views about decision-making and did not test an intervention or measure outcomes.