title: A systematic review of questionnaires to assess patient satisfaction with limb orthoses.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Assessment of patient satisfaction with orthosis is a key point for clinical practice and research, requiring questionnaires with robust psychometric properties.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To identify which validated questionnaires are used to investigate patient satisfaction with orthosis in limb orthotics and to analyse (1) their main fields of clinical application, (2) the orthosis-related features analysed by the questionnaires and (3) the strength of their psychometric properties.
  
  
  METHODS
  Systematic review.
  
  
  METHODS
  A literature search using MEDLINE (PubMed), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) and Scopus databases for original articles published within the last 20 years was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 106 papers pertaining to various clinical fields were selected. The main features of patient satisfaction with orthosis analysed were as follows: aesthetic, ease in donning and doffing the device, time of orthotic use and comfort.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Of the questionnaires used to investigate patient satisfaction with orthosis, only four are adequately validated for this purpose: two for generic orthotic use (Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction with assistive Technology 2.0 and Client Satisfaction with Device of Orthotics and Prosthetic Users' Survey) and two for specific application with orthopaedic shoes (Questionnaire for the Usability Evaluation of orthopaedic shoes and Monitor Orthopaedic Shoes). Further development, refinement and validation of outcome measures in this field are warranted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Given the importance of analysing patient satisfaction with orthosis (PSwO), appropriate instruments to assess outcome are needed. This article reviews the currently available instruments and reflects on how future studies could be focused on the development, refinement and validation of outcome measures in this field.
authors.affiliation: University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bettoni
authors.affiliation: Scientific Institute of Veruno, Fondazione Salvatore Maugeri, Veruno, Italy giorgio.ferriero@fsm.it.
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ferriero
authors.affiliation: Tor Vergata University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Hadeel
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bakhsh
authors.affiliation: Tor Vergata University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bravini
authors.affiliation: University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Massazza
authors.affiliation: Scientific Institute of Veruno, Fondazione Salvatore Maugeri, Veruno, Italy.
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Franchignoni
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D009989:Orthotic Devices; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Lower limb orthotics; orthotics; patients satisfaction; rehabilitation; rehabilitation of orthoses users; rehabilitation psychology; upper limb orthotics