ADHERENCE AND SATISFACTION WITH THE USE OF LOWER LIMB ORTHOSES IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH CHARCOT-MARIE-TOOTH DISEASE

• Grant number: 25/12193-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2025
• End date: August 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Ana Cláudia Mattiello-Sverzut
• Grantee: Daniela Zanelli Sacardo
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Although assistive technology devices (insoles, submalleolar, supramalleolar and suropodalic orthoses) are frequently indicated during the rehabilitation treatment of children and adolescents with Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT), there is still a lack of information in the literature about the factors involved in adherence and satisfaction with the use of these devices by patients. Therefore, the objective of this study is to investigate the factors involved in the satisfaction and adherence of children and adolescents with CMT to the use of assistive technology devices. Secondarily, the study will verify if there is an association between satisfaction, age, level of clinical impairment and level of education of the caregiver. Thirty children and adolescents with CMT will be included in this study. Clinical impairment will be assessed using the pediatric Charcot-Marie-Tooth scale. To assess satisfaction, a modified version of the Client Satisfaction with Device module of the Orthotic and Prosthetic Users Survey (OPUS) questionnaire will be used. To assess adherence, diaries of use will be used throughout the intervention period. The diaries can be filled out online or in printed format and the filling will be sent by the exchange via telephone. All data will be analyzed descriptively, using minimum, maximum, mean, median, standard deviation and frequency values. For the analysis of accuracy, according to the assumptions, the Pearson or Spearman coefficient (r) may be used. (AU)