title: Characterizing mobility from the prosthetic limb user's perspective: Use of focus groups to guide development of the Prosthetic Limb Users Survey of Mobility.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Input from target respondents in the development of patient-reported outcome measures is necessary to ensure that the instrument is meaningful.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To solicit perspectives of prosthetic limb users about their mobility experiences and to inform development of the Prosthetic Limb Users Survey of Mobility.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four focus groups of lower limb prosthesis users were held in different regions of the United States. Focus group transcripts were coded, and themes were identified. Feedback from participants was used to develop a framework for measuring mobility with a lower limb prosthesis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Focus group participants (N = 37) described mobility as a confluence of factors that included characteristics of the individual, activity, and environment. Identified themes were defined as individual characteristics, forms of movement, and environmental situations. Prosthetic mobility was conceptualized as movement activities performed in an environmental or situational context.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Respondent feedback used to guide development of Prosthetic Limb Users Survey of Mobility established a foundation for a new person-centered measure of mobility with a prosthetic limb.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Perspectives of target respondents are needed to guide development of instruments intended to measure health outcomes. Focus groups of prosthetic limb users were conducted to solicit experiences related to mobility with a lower limb prosthesis. Results were used to inform development of a clinically meaningful, person-centered instrument.
authors.affiliation: University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA bhafner@uw.edu.
authors.forename: Brian J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Hafner
authors.affiliation: University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors.forename: Sara J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.affiliation: Puget Sound Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Abrahamson
authors.affiliation: University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors.forename: Dagmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Amtmann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D000674:Amputees / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D001186:Artificial Limbs; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D057240:Patient Preference; D000071066:Patient Reported Outcome Measures; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D036301:Qualitative Research; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Focus groups; artificial limb; mobility limitations; qualitative research