Questionnaire assessment of patient satisfaction with lower limb orthoses from a district hospital

A questionnaire survey of patient satisfaction with the provision of lower limb orthoses from a district general hospital was conducted. Lower limb orthoses included "made-to-measure" footwear, knee braces and ankle-foot-orthoses (AFO's). Prescriptions for footwear and AFO's during a one year period, and knee braces over a two year period were assessed. The survey did not confine itself to a single medical condition. The level of patient dissatisfaction with the various orthoses was as follows: AFO's 16%, footwear 24%, knee braces 42%. This level of dissatisfaction amounts to considerable financial waste. Although several recommendations can be made on the basis of these results, this study highlights the need for more detailed audit and research into the prescription and provision of orthoses in order to reduce this wastage.