Recurring Themes in Prosthetic and Orthotic Education: A Narrative Review of Prosthetic and Orthotic Education Summit Meetings

Abstract

ABSTRACT Introduction Prosthetic and orthotic (P&O) education summits and strategic planning meetings have been held periodically since 1970 to review the current state of practice and education and to advance the profession. These meetings typically included a panel of acknowledged experts from the ranks of educators, researchers, consumers, industry representatives, and practitioners. Materials and Methods A narrative review of education summit and strategic planning meeting reports was performed. The authors defined concrete aims and specific questions before conducting the review. The authors independently reviewed the reports to identify the purpose of each meeting and the perceived challenges of the time. Lastly, the authors performed a qualitative thematic analysis to clarify the findings. Results The recurring themes identified from the five education summit reports, joint task force report, and three National Commission on Orthotic and Prosthetic Education (NCOPE) strategic planning meeting reports include 1) workforce shortages, 2) continuous development and oversight of uniform, recognized, national academic standards, 3) sustainability of P&O academic programs, 4) development and oversight of uniform, recognized, national residency standards, 5) communication with stakeholders, including related health professionals, and 6) data collection and usage. Conclusions Recurring themes and challenges that existed previously in P&O education still exist today. Communication between academic programs and community partners (e.g., clinical practitioners, paraprofessionals, patients, payers, and interdisciplinary professionals) is a continuing priority to clarify the expectations of P&O professionals and to advance the profession. Use of a systematic approach could help map the patterns and needs of the profession to demonstrate progress over time and to facilitate future strategic planning. Clinical Relevance P&O education is designed to meet the needs of practitioners and paraprofessionals who implement P&O services (i.e., fitting, fabrication, and patient management). Maintaining communication between academia and its community partners is critical to advancing the profession.