Long-term use of custom-made orthopedic shoes: 1.5-year follow-up study.
This study investigated long-term use of custom-made orthopedic shoes (OS) at 1.5 years follow-up. In addition, the association between short-term outcomes and long-term use was studied. Patients from a previously published study who did use their first-ever pair of OS 3 months after delivery received another questionnaire after 1.5 years. Patients with different pathologies were included in the study (n = 269, response = 86%). Mean age was 63 ± 14 years, and 38% were male. After 1.5 years, 87% of the patients still used their OS (78% frequently [4-7 days/week] and 90% occasionally [1-3 days/week]) and 13% of the patients had ceased using their OS. Patients who were using their OS frequently after 1.5 years had significantly higher scores for 8 of 10 short-term usability outcomes (p-values ranged from <0.001 to 0.046). The largest differences between users and nonusers were found for scores on the short-term outcomes of OS fit and communication with the medical specialist and shoe technician (effect size range = 0.16 to 0.46). We conclude that patients with worse short-term usability outcomes for their OS are more likely to use their OS only occasionally or not at all at long-term follow-up.
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Center for Rehabilitation, University Medical Center Groningen, PO Box 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, the Netherlands. j.j.van.netten@rev.umcg.nl
Jaap J
JJ
van Netten
Michiel J A
MJ
Jannink
Juha M
JM
Hijmans
Jan H B
JH
Geertzen
Klaas
K
Postema
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005534:Foot Diseases / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009989:Orthotic Devices; D010349:Patient Compliance; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012775:Shoes; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking