Clinicians' perspectives of activity monitoring applications and facilitators for lower-limb prosthetic service provision

Patricks, Victoria; Granat, Malcolm; Twiste, Martin; Curtin, Samantha; Worsley, Peter

Abstract

Introduction Clinicians involved in lower-limb prosthetic provision and care do not have an objective method for measuring patients' real-world prosthesis usage. This results in a poor understanding of the full picture of the patient's everyday life impacting the reporting of outcome following prosthetic prescriptions. There is need to understand what information from wearable prosthetic monitors would be relevant to clinicians and how that information should be displayed to enable healthcare professionals to make informed decisions. Moreover, clinicians' perspectives regarding potential use and application of information from monitoring technologies is important in the development and implementation of this technology to improve evidence-based systems for informed clinical decisions for lower-limb prosthesis users. This study aims to explore clinicians' experiences and perceptions of information obtained from free-living wearable prosthetic monitors used in clinical practice. Methods Seven clinicians from private practice and academia were recruited to participate in the study. A semi-structured interview was held for each participant, which lasted about 30-45 minutes. Data and transcripts were analysed using inductive thematic analysis method. Results Themes of Objectiveness and Motivation were identified as specific applications of monitoring technologies. Other themes such as Awareness and Integration were identified as the facilitators of monitoring technologies for prosthetic care in clinical settings. Clinicians identified frameworks in which these monitoring technologies could Powered by Editorial Manager® and ProduXion Manager® from Aries Systems Corporation

Citation

Patricks, V., Granat, M., Twiste, M., Curtin, S., & Worsley, P. (2024). Clinicians' perspectives of activity monitoring applications and facilitators for lower-limb prosthetic service provision. Journal of Prosthetics and Orthotics, https://doi.org/10.1097/JPO.0000000000000518

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 19, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Jul 17, 2024
• Publication Date: Jul 17, 2024
• Deposit Date: Sep 19, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 18, 2025
• Journal: Journal of Prosthetics and Orthotics
• Print ISSN: 1040-8800
• Publisher: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/JPO.0000000000000518
• Keywords: Monitoring; Wearable sensors; Clinicians; Lower limb; Prosthesis; rehabilitation