The national profile of the prosthetic and orthotic workforce in the UK: Sociodemographics and employment characteristics.
Journal
Prosthetics and orthotics international
ISSN: 1746-1553
Titre abrégé: Prosthet Orthot Int
Pays: France
ID NLM: 7707720
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
30 Jan 2024
30 Jan 2024
Historique:
received:
12
10
2023
accepted:
04
12
2023
medline:
2
2
2024
pubmed:
2
2
2024
entrez:
2
2
2024
Statut:
aheadofprint
Résumé
Prosthetists and orthotists (POs) are essential members of the health care workforce and one of the United Kingdom's (UK's) allied health professions. There is a paucity of information on their demographics, which is essential for the development of the profession. To fill this void, this study has attempted to comprehensively explore the sociodemographics and work-related characteristics of the entire workforce. Data were collected in 2022 through multiple sources, including surveys of POs, private companies employing POs, and freedom of information requests to National Health Service Trusts/Health Boards and higher education institutes offering programs leading to registration as a prosthetist/orthotist. The workforce survey had 641 respondents (74% response rate). The estimated national ratio of POs per million population was 13, with all bar of the 12 regions below the World Health Organization minimum recommendation of 15 POs per million population. Most of the survey respondents were female (47.6%) and younger than male respondents, were British (75.8%), and in the White ethnic group (74.3%). Most of them were employed by private companies (59.9% vs. 31.4% employed by the National Health Service) and had clinical duties (94%), permanent contracts (90%), worked full-time (75%), and treated a wide range of clinical conditions. The national UK prosthetist and orthotist ratio falls below the recommended international standards. The versatility and broad skill set of POs highlight their crucial role in multidisciplinary teams. Establishing a centralized prosthetist and orthotist workforce database system is recommended for data-driven strategic planning.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Prosthetists and orthotists (POs) are essential members of the health care workforce and one of the United Kingdom's (UK's) allied health professions. There is a paucity of information on their demographics, which is essential for the development of the profession. To fill this void, this study has attempted to comprehensively explore the sociodemographics and work-related characteristics of the entire workforce.
METHODS
METHODS
Data were collected in 2022 through multiple sources, including surveys of POs, private companies employing POs, and freedom of information requests to National Health Service Trusts/Health Boards and higher education institutes offering programs leading to registration as a prosthetist/orthotist.
RESULTS
RESULTS
The workforce survey had 641 respondents (74% response rate). The estimated national ratio of POs per million population was 13, with all bar of the 12 regions below the World Health Organization minimum recommendation of 15 POs per million population. Most of the survey respondents were female (47.6%) and younger than male respondents, were British (75.8%), and in the White ethnic group (74.3%). Most of them were employed by private companies (59.9% vs. 31.4% employed by the National Health Service) and had clinical duties (94%), permanent contracts (90%), worked full-time (75%), and treated a wide range of clinical conditions.
CONCLUSIONS
CONCLUSIONS
The national UK prosthetist and orthotist ratio falls below the recommended international standards. The versatility and broad skill set of POs highlight their crucial role in multidisciplinary teams. Establishing a centralized prosthetist and orthotist workforce database system is recommended for data-driven strategic planning.
Identifiants
pubmed: 38306308
doi: 10.1097/PXR.0000000000000331
pii: 00006479-990000000-00217
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Subventions
Organisme : British Association of Prosthetists and Orthotists
Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2024 International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics.
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