A toolkit for prosthetists and orthotists to facilitate progress in professional communication over the next 50 years

Van Netten, JJ; Jarl, G; Postema, K; Williams, AE

Abstract

Background: In this celebratory issue of Prosthetics and Orthotics International, we review professional communication skills in the field of prosthetics and orthotics. Objective: We aim to reflect on communication skills in the past 50 years, to discuss developments in the coming 50 years, and to create a toolkit and research agenda to facilitate progress in professional communication in the next 50 years. Results: Despite being a key area in prosthetics and orthotics training programmes, we found no studies on professional communication with an experimental design published in Prosthetics and Orthotics International. As an alternative, we provide clinical reflections on the changes in professional communication in the past 50 years, and we discuss questionnaire-based and qualitative studies that provide evidence for the importance of communication in pedorthic footwear provision. In the coming 50 years, professional communication in the field of prosthetics and orthotics may be impacted by aging populations, global mobility, information technology, technological advances and emphasis on prevention. We discuss each of these topics. To facilitate progress in professional communication, we have created a toolkit with resources for prosthetics and orthotics professionals, prosthetics and orthotics students and other interested professionals. Conclusions: We hope this toolkit will inspire others to use, extend and implement it in their daily practice. As a research agenda, we strongly recommend undertaking research on interventions to improve professional communication and to study its effect on clinically meaningful outcomes.

Citation

Van Netten, J., Jarl, G., Postema, K., & Williams, A. (2020). A toolkit for prosthetists and orthotists to facilitate progress in professional communication over the next 50 years. Prosthetics and Orthotics International, 44(6), 408-415. https://doi.org/10.1177/0309364620962325

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 1, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Oct 12, 2020
• Publication Date: Dec 1, 2020
• Deposit Date: Oct 22, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 22, 2020
• Journal: Prosthetics and Orthotics International
• Print ISSN: 0309-3646
• Electronic ISSN: 1746-1553
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Volume: 44
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 408-415
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0309364620962325
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1177/0309364620962325
• Related Public URLs: https://journals.sagepub.com/home/poi
• Additional Information: Additional Information : ** From Crossref via Jisc Publications Router **Journal IDs: pissn 0309-3646; eissn 1746-1553 **History: issued 12-10-2020; published_online 12-10-2020