Use and usability of custom-made knee-ankle-foot orthoses in polio survivors with knee instability: A cross-sectional survey

Objective: To investigate the use of custom-made knee-ankle-foot-orthoses in daily life and differences in usability factors of knee-ankle-foot-orthoses between users and discontinued users. Design: Cross-sectional survey study. Subjects: A total of 163 polio survivors provided with a knee-ankle-foot-orthosis at an outpatient clinic of a university hospital. Methods: Use and usability of knee-ankle-foot-orthoses in daily life were assessed with a postal questionnaire. Usability factors were formulated using the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9241-11 standard. Results: A total of 106 respondents (65%) returned the questionnaire. Of these, 98 were eligible for analysis. Seventy-four respondents (76%) reported using their knee-ankle-foot-orthosis. Compared with discontinued users (24%), users experienced more limitations when walking without an orthosis (p = 0.001), were more often experienced with wearing a previous orthosis (p < 0.001) and were more often prescribed with a locked rather than a stance-control knee-ankle-foot-orthosis (p = 0.015). Furthermore, users reported better effectiveness of their knee-ankle-foot-orthosis (p < 0.001), more satisfaction with goals of use and knee-ankle-foot-orthosis-related aspects (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The majority of polio survivors used their custom-made knee-ankle-foot-orthoses in daily life. Factors related to continued use, such as walking ability without orthosis, expectations of the orthosis, previous orthosis experience and type of knee-ankle-foot-orthosis provided, should be considered and discussed when prescribing a knee-ankle-foot-orthosis in polio survivors.

Quality of life in Hungarian polio survivors

Aim The number of Hungarian polio patients can be estimated at approximately 3000. Polio infection is currently affecting people 56–65 years of age. The aim of the study was to reveal the quality of life of patients living with polio virus in Hungary. Subject and methods The quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted in January–April 2017 among polyomyelitis patients living in Hungary. In the non-random, targeted, expert sample selection, the target group was composed of patients infected with poliovirus (N = 268). We have excluded those who refused to sign the consent statement. Our data collection method was an SF-36 questionnaire. Using the IBM SPSS Statistics Version 22 program, descriptive and mathematical statistics (χ2-test) were calculated (p < 0.05). Results The mean age of the members of the examined population is 63.5 years; 68.1% were women and 31.90% were men. The majority of the respondents were infected by the polyovirus in 1956 (11.9%), 1957 (24.3%), and 1959 (19.5%). Polio patients, with the exception of two dimensions (mental health, social operation), on the scale of 100 do not reach the “average” quality of life (physical functioning 23 points, functional role 36 points, emotional role 47 points, body pain 48 points, general health 42 points, vitality 50 points, health change 31 points). Conclusion The quality of life of polio patients is far below the dimensions of physical function, while the difference in mental health compared to healthy people is minimal. It would be important to educate health professionals about the existing disease, to develop an effective rehabilitation method.

Selection of a quality of life instrument for polio survivors in Northwest Nigeria

Background To generate high-quality evidence, contextually relevant outcome measurement instruments are required. Quality of life evaluation among polio survivors typically involves the use of generic instruments, which are developed and validated among a different groups of people. There is no clear evidence whether these instruments are appropriate for the measurement of quality of life among polio survivors in northwest Nigeria. The purpose of this review is to identify and select a pre-existing instrument that is best suited for the measurement of quality of life among polio survivors in northwest Nigeria. Methods Using the findings of a previous scoping review of the literature and qualitative descriptive study, we screened 11 quality of life instruments that are used in polio literature. We identified and selected the most appropriate instrument, which reflected the perspectives of polio survivors in northwest Nigeria and at the same time exhibited good measurement properties. Results The Quality of Life Index, World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief, and Comprehensive Quality of Life Scale are consistent with the perspectives of polio survivors in northwest Nigeria and have satisfactory measurement properties. Among these instruments, the Quality of Life Index satisfied most of the screening criteria we employed and is suitable for cross-cultural adaptation in northwest Nigeria. Conclusion Most instruments that are employed to evaluate the quality of life of polio survivors were not primarily designed as a measure of quality of life. To select the appropriate instrument, there is a need to consider and reflect the perspectives of the individuals, to improve the validity of the measurement.