Patients' expectations and actual use of custom-made orthopaedic shoes.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the association between patients' expectations and the actual use of custom-made orthopaedic shoes.


METHODS
A prospective cohort study with internal comparison.


METHODS
Twelve orthopaedic shoe companies.


METHODS
During six months, consecutive patients who were provided with their first ever pair of orthopaedic shoes and aged 16 years or older were recruited. A total of 339 patients with different pathologies were included (response 67%). Mean (SD) age of the patients was 63 (15) years, and 129 patients (38%) were male.


METHODS
A practical and reproducible questionnaire, measuring: frequency of use of orthopaedic shoes, patients' expectations and experiences of aspects of the usability of orthopaedic shoes, and communication about patients' expectations.


RESULTS
Patients' expectations were not associated with the use of orthopaedic shoes (P-values range: 0.106 to 0.607), but the difference between expectations and experiences was (P-values range: <0.001 to 0.012). The expectations of patients who frequently used their orthopaedic shoes were in concordance with their experiences, whereas the expectations of patients who did not use their orthopaedic shoes were much higher than their experiences. There was no communication of patients' expectations with the medical specialist or orthopaedic shoe technician in 34% and 25% of the patients respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
In relation to the actual use of orthopaedic shoes, it is crucial that patients' expectations are not much higher than their experiences.
van Netten
Jaap J
JJ
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Center for Rehabilitation, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen and Graduate School for Health Research, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. j.j.van.netten@rev.umcg.nl
Jannink
Michiel J A
MJ
Hijmans
Juha M
JM
Geertzen
Jan H B
JH
Postema
Klaas
K
D000842:Ankle / Q000503:physiopathology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot / Q000503:physiopathology; D005534:Foot Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D018409:Foot Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009989:Orthotic Devices; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010349:Patient Compliance; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012775:Shoes