Shoes in the cupboard - the fate of prescribed footwear?

Williams, AE; Meacher, K

Abstract

Studies show that patient dissatisfaction with
prescribed footwear results in low usage and that
the cause is the system that provides it.
The aim of this study was to compare referrer
and patient perceptions of a multidisciplinary
footwear clinic (MDFC) and a traditional
surgical appliance clinic (SAC). Referring
consultants completed a questionnaire for every
referral (28 referred to the MDFC and 27 to the
SAC) during a six-month period. Structured
interviews were designed to gather the data.
The results showed that referrers to both
groups indicated that they lacked the time and
knowledge to give advice about retail footwear.
The entire MDFC group but only 18 (66.6%) of
patients in the SAC group had the opportunity
for discussion about footwear before the
prescription took place. Some 17 (62.9%) in the
SAC group reported problems with the footwear
but only 11 (40.7%) of this group were informed
what to do if problems occurred. Both groups
demonstrated an association between the
patient's attitude, their perception of
improvement in their feet and overall
satisfaction. These factors seemed to have an
impact on the usage of the prescription footwear
with 13 (48.1%) of the SAC group using other
footwear compared with 2 (7.2%) in the MDFC
group.
This study adds to the suggestions made in
other studies that there is a need to review the
SAC system and identifies key areas that
influence patient satisfaction.

Citation

Williams, A., & Meacher, K. (2001). Shoes in the cupboard - the fate of prescribed footwear?. Prosthetics and Orthotics International, 25(1), 53-59. https://doi.org/10.1080/03093640108726569

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Apr 1, 2001
• Deposit Date: Sep 27, 2010
• Journal: Prosthetics and Orthotics International
• Print ISSN: 0309-3646
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 25
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 53-59
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/03093640108726569
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03093640108726569