Improving PGY2 Familiarity and Confidence with Prescribing Transtibial Prosthetic Device Components

Background and/or Objectives: To improve the understanding, familiarity, and confidence of PGY2 PM&R residents with the components of a transtibial prosthetic device (TTPD)

Design: Pretest, resident teaching, and Posttest

Setting : Clinical

Participants : 3 second-year residents in a PM&R residency program

Interventions: Residents were given a pretest to evaluate their understanding of the components of a TTPD and their knowledge in prescribing prosthetic components in the outpatient setting. Following the pretest, residents underwent an educational session reviewing a prosthetic flowsheet discussing the various components of a TTPD and which components should be chosen in relation to an amputee’s anatomy. The residents were given the flowsheet and educational material to continue reviewing over 2 days before a posttest was given.

Main Outcome Measures: Pretest/Posttest discussing familiarity of prosthetic components and prescribing. Survey questions were standardized with either YES/NO or STRONGLY DISAGREE to STRONGLY AGREE answer selections

Results: After reviewing the education material, 100% of residents felt more confident in their understanding of TTPD components, answering with AGREE or STRONGLY AGREE where they previously recorded DISAGREE or STRONGLY DISAGREE. 100% of residents believe there should be a tool for incoming PM&R residents to become more comfortable prescribing prosthetic devices.

Conclusions: Second-year PM&R residents are unfamiliar with the components of TTPD and not comfortable with their level of knowledge in prescribing them. Education from standardized educational material about this subject increases resident familiarity and confidence. Flowsheets should be implemented in initial education material to give PM&R residents access to a high quality resource to start their prosthetic prescribing career.