Findings from a study conducted by the Hanger Institute for Clinical Research and Education and the University of Washington describe a new patient-reported outcome measure developed for people who use lower-limb orthoses.
To create the Orthotic Patient-Reported Outcomes–Mobility (OPRO-M), study investigators administered candidate questions to more than 1,000 lower-limb orthosis users in a national survey. The data was used to calibrate select questions to a single measurement scale using a methodology called item response theory. The authors constructed 12- and 20-item shortened versions (short forms) of the instrument designed for use in clinical care and research.
“Despite the clinically recognized benefits of lower-limb orthoses, there is limited scientific evidence available to demonstrate their real-world effectiveness,” said Geoff Balkman, PhD, CPO, assistant professor of rehabilitation medicine at the University of Washington and first author of the study. “Self-report measures like OPRO-M can help clinicians and researchers more effectively assess those outcomes that matter most to patients.”
The OPRO-M was able to detect differences between participants grouped by type of paresis, number of comorbidities, type of orthosis, fall history, and assistive device use. Study investigators also found strong positive correlations between OPRO-M and previously validated surveys designed for other patient populations. Collectively, the findings indicated that OPRO-M can effectively measure the mobility of lower-limb orthosis users and help clinicians identify where possible improvements can be made.
The OPRO-M short forms and user guide can be found at opro-m.org.
More information about the study can be found on the Hanger Institute’s website.
The open-access study, “Development and Initial Validation of the Orthotic Patient-Reported Outcomes–Mobility (OPRO-M),” was published in PLOS One.
