Experiences of socket comfort and communication V1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A qualitative study exploring the views and perspectives of prosthetic users and healthcare professionals on the comfort and communication surrounding lower limb prosthetic socket fittings.
IRAS ID
335772
Contact name
Maggie Donovan-Hall
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Southampton
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 2 days
Research summary
A well-fitting and comfortable prosthetic socket is essential following lower limb amputation to enable patients to regain functional independence and optimise quality of life with a prosthetic limb. The most common symptom referred to by patients in a prosthetic clinic is socket discomfort, which has been shown to reduce physical activity, cause tissue injury, gait instability, increased risk of falling (Hanspal et al, 2003; Larsen et al., 2021), and can lead to secondary musculoskeletal diseases such as osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and low back pain (Dickinson et al., 2016; Kwak et al., 2020). Furthermore, socket discomfort has been identified as the primary cause of prosthetic limb abandonment (Gailey et al., 2010).
Interestingly, across studies and within clinical practice, it is often found that patients and clinicians use the terms 'comfort' and ‘fit’ interchangeably to describe socket comfort issues, and several authors have suggested it is difficult to define, quantify, and document (Hanspal et al, 2003). Furthermore, little is currently known about the experience of socket comfort or fit from the prosthetic users’ perspective.
This study will use one to one interviews with 15 prosthetic limb users and 15 clinicians to explore the lived experience of socket comfort and fit. We will also explore how problems are discussed in clinical setting and ways to improve communication and management. Participants will be recruited through NHS prosthetic services and social media. Interviews will be carried out over the telephone or online and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Findings will be used to inform both clinical management and future research.
REC name
London - Westminster Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/PR/0042
Date of REC Opinion
14 Feb 2024
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion