Attitudes and behaviors toward using outcome measures in clinical practice: Findings of a blended education program.

Background: Outcome measures (OMs) are important in healthcare, but there are barriers to their use. A blended education program was designed to teach orthotic and prosthetic professionals a standard practice of collecting and using OMs in their facility. This study used a single group pretest and post-test mixed methods survey to evaluate the effects of a blended education program for orthotic and prosthetic professionals to incorporate OMs into routine clinical practice.

Methods: Fifteen learners (seven practitioners, four technicians, and four administrative staff) completed online education and in-person training. Learners' attitudes toward knowledge of confidence administering and rate of adoption of OMs into clinical practice were assessed before the start of the program, immediately upon completion, and four months after completion. Performance indicators were accessed through electronic medical records (EMRs).

Results: Participants' attitudes toward OMs were overwhelmingly positive and remained positive (P = .64). Practitioners' posteducation knowledge scores on the standardized use of OMs increased significantly (P = .046) as did their confidence administering OMs (F = 8.47, P = .007). Practitioners' reported using OMs significantly more 4 months after the program (F = 19.7, P < .001), and they doubled the number of times OMs were collected each month resulting in a 3000% increase and a 500 data points recorded in the electronic medical record at the end of the 4 months.

Conclusions: This education program had a significant and positive lasting impact on practitioners' knowledge of confidence and use of OMs demonstrating an overall change in everyday clinical practice and clinic operations.