Reconsidering evidence-based practice in prosthetic rehabilitation: a shared enterprise

Area of Science:

• Prosthetic Rehabilitation
• Evidence-Based Practice
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• A significant divide exists between evidence producers and users within prosthetic rehabilitation.
• This gap complicates the implementation of evidence-based practice in clinical settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the complexities of establishing evidence-based practice within prosthetic rehabilitation teams.
• To illustrate these complexities using the case of prosthetic prescription for elderly dysvascular transfemoral amputee patients.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative research design was employed, utilizing triangulation of data from multiple sources.
• Data collection involved individual and focus-group interviews with rehabilitation team members, industry website analysis, and literature reviews.

Main Results:

• Prosthetic rehabilitation teams face challenges including lack of evidence, conflicting results, diverse stakeholder interests, and a rapidly evolving technological landscape.
• Integrating research designs with complementary strengths can address the multimorbidity and multifaceted disabilities of patients.
• Systematically articulating clinical knowledge, patient needs, and values is essential for effective evidence-based practice.

Conclusions:

• Reconsidering the interplay between evidence, technology, and rehabilitation practice is a shared imperative for clinicians and researchers.
• Integrating scientific, clinical, and patient-centered knowledge strengthens prosthetic and orthotic care.
• Optimal patient care is achieved by integrating evidence, technology, and rehabilitation practice, benefiting both researchers and clinicians.