Outcome measures can be used in prosthetic practices to evaluate interventions, inform decision making, monitor progress, document outcomes, and justify services. A study published in the June 2014 issue of Prosthetics and Orthotics International concludes that prosthetists in the study reported limited use of, and confidence with administering, standardized outcome measures used to assess mobility in individual with lower-limb amputations.
A team of researchers conducted a cross-sectional and single-group pretest-posttest survey of 79 certified prosthetists with an average of 16 years of clinical experience. The study participants were surveyed about their experiences with 20 standardized outcome measures. Prosthetists were formally trained by the investigators to administer the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test and Amputee Mobility Predictor (AMP). Prosthetists’ confidence in administering the TUG test and AMP was measured before and after training. They found that the majority of prosthetists (62 percent) were classified as non-routine outcome measure users. Confidence administering the TUG test and AMP prior to training was low to moderate across the study sample. Training significantly improved prosthetists’ confidence in administering both instruments.
According to the study, training enhances confidence and may encourage use of outcome measures in clinical practice.
