An exploratory qualitative study of health professional perspectives on clinical outcomes in UK orthotic practice

Author(s) Hall N.; Parker D.; Williams A.
Source Journal of foot and ankle research; Jul 2020; vol. 13 (no. 1); p. 49

BACKGROUND: Despite potential savings to the National Health Service, the collection of data on outcomes of NHS orthotic services is patchy. Indeed, several reports into orthotic services in the UK have reported a lack of data relating to outcomes of care and highlighted the need to routinely measure outcomes to demonstrate efficacy of services. Whilst a previous study provided an overview of the use of outcome measures in orthotic practice and identified some barriers to their use, further questions emerged. Hence, this qualitative study aimed to explore orthotists' opinions and personal experiences on the influences on outcomes, how appropriate and relevant outcomes can be measured and also how barriers to the use of outcome measures can be overcome.

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