Developing training tools for clinicians in LICs: A qualitative investigation of the patient factors that influence prosthetic prescription

Michael Walker, Pratima Saravanan, Jessica Menold

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

A prosthesis is a replacement limb that must be functionally sound, comfortably fit, durable, and aesthetically pleasing. Difficulty in prescription is further amplified by each patient's unique needs and the variability within patient data. The clinician's education and prior training is critical in effectively navigating the wealth of patient specific information needed to prescribe a prosthesis and rehabilitation plan that increases the likelihood of long-term patient success. Education and training significantly vary, however, from country to country, and in Lower Income Countries (LIC) a lack of formalized prosthetic training contributes to a lower quality of life for resident amputees. Prosthetists and technicians in LICs face further challenges due to a lack of material resources and formal medical infrastructure. This study was motivated to understand the types of patient information that influence decision-making strategies during prosthetic prescription and compare strategies across expert and novice groups. The results of this study suggest that salient factors are different between each clinician group and is influenced by the complexity of the patients' case. Activity level of the amputee influenced novices' prescription, whereas amputee's motivation, insurance, and health history influenced experts' prosthetic prescription. Future work exploring the utility of complimentary or supplemental prescription tools, particularly for prosthetists in LICs, is discussed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publication46th Design Automation Conference (DAC)
PublisherAmerican Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
ISBN (Electronic)9780791884010
DOIs
StatePublished - 2020
EventASME 2020 International Design Engineering Technical Conferences and Computers and Information in Engineering Conference, IDETC-CIE 2020 - Virtual, Online
Duration: Aug 17 2020Aug 19 2020

Publication series

NameProceedings of the ASME Design Engineering Technical Conference
Volume11B-2020

Conference

ConferenceASME 2020 International Design Engineering Technical Conferences and Computers and Information in Engineering Conference, IDETC-CIE 2020
CityVirtual, Online
Period8/17/208/19/20

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Computer Graphics and Computer-Aided Design
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Modeling and Simulation

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