Compliance and satisfaction with foot compression devices: an orthopaedic perspective

Area of Science:

• Orthopaedic Surgery
• Vascular Surgery
• Medical Device Technology

Background:

• Mechanical prophylaxis is effective for thromboembolism prevention.
• Patient compliance with mechanical devices is poorly understood.
• Anecdotal evidence suggests compliance may be inadequate.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prospectively assess patient compliance and satisfaction with foot pumps.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of mechanical prophylaxis in orthopaedic patients.
• To identify factors influencing compliance with foot pump devices.

Main Methods:

• Prospective analysis of 30 orthopaedic patients over 5 months.
• Random spot checks to measure device utilization.
• Patient questionnaires assessing comfort, dislike factors, and satisfaction.

Main Results:

• Device utilization was effective in only 40.2% of measurements.
• Compliance significantly declined post-operatively (P < 0.001).
• Sleep disturbance (57%) and heat intolerance (43%) were common complaints, reducing compliance.

Conclusions:

• Achieving satisfactory patient compliance with foot pumps is challenging.
• Enhanced patient education may improve adherence.
• Combining foot pumps with pharmacological prophylaxis is advisable if compliance cannot be strictly enforced.