Foot for Thought: The Patient as an Outcome Measure

Abstract

In light of the difficulties surrounding adequate outcome measurement and subsequently adequate patient expectation management based on scientific data, which are mentioned in the introduction, this thesis aimed to: I) establish recommendations on which PROMs should be used (or developed) concerning foot trauma research; and II) establish normative data on patient-reported quality of life and functionality after a variety of traumatic foot injuries. This thesis highlights that the most frequently used PROMs are the AOFAS scales, which have questionable psychometric properties and are no longer endorsed by the AOFAS themselves. In Part I, an overview of alternative foot-specifc PROMs is provided with an accompanying PROM selection flow diagram. In is way, this thesis aids researchers in the selection of the optimal instrument to be used in research, and perhaps clinical practice. Part II can be used by surgeons as a reference guide when advising individual patients on the personalized treatment strategy and the expected outcomes.