Provision of prosthetic and orthotic services in low-income countries: a review of the literature.

Autor: Harkins CS; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland, UK., McGarry A, Buis A
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Prosthetics and orthotics international [Prosthet Orthot Int] 2013 Oct; Vol. 37 (5), pp. 353-61. Date of Electronic Publication: 2013 Jan 07.
DOI: 10.1177/0309364612470963
Abstrakt: Background: Disability is inextricably linked to poverty. A total of 80% of the disabled population lives in low-income countries. The demand for prosthetic and orthotic services in these countries is increasing, and a variety of methods to provide services are currently used.
Objectives: To assess current models of provision to facilitate sustainable, evidence-based prosthetic and orthotic services.
Study Design: Literature review.
Methods: A literature search was performed through Medline (Ovid), PubMed, ISI Web of Knowledge, EMBASE and RECAL Legacy using combinations of subject heading and text word searching strategies. Full-text publications were critically appraised and ranked according to the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network guidelines.
Results: Three areas were deemed pertinent to the research question. Studies were grouped into one or more of these categories based on the issues addressed: instigators, types of service provision, demographics and region-specific issues. It was found that many complex factors influence prosthetic and orthotic services in low-income countries. Demographic and regional idiosyncrasies require prosthetic and orthotic services to be tailored to address the specific needs of individual countries.
Conclusions: The lack of and quality of available research made efficacy of methods used to provide services in low-income countries difficult to determine.
Databáze: MEDLINE