A Survey of Prosthetic Services in the New Zealand Realm; Tokelau, Niue, the Cook Islands, and New Zealand
Date of Award
Summer 6-26-2024
Document Type
Non Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Orthotics and Prosthetics
Department
Kinesiology
First Advisor
Amy Funke
Abstract
The rates of non-communicable diseases and obesity are on the rise, and the state of health for Pacific peoples in New Zealand is not improving. In 20 years’ time, a quarter of all New Zealand’s Pacific peoples could be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. These estimates are disproportionately higher for Pacific Islanders when compared to other New Zealanders. This increase of New Zealand’s diabetic population will likely lead to a rise in diabetes related amputations. Addressing these inequalities of the New Zealand healthcare system will enable people to live longer, more healthy lives. Therefore, the need to reduce the literature gap of meaningful research on amputation rates, the delivery of prostheses, and the quality of care for these populations is evident. This cross-sectional study aims to address this literature gap by evaluating the perceptions of prosthetic devices and services of prosthetic users in the urban Zealand compared to those living in remote islands of the New Zealand Realm. The outcome measurements will come from a customized questionnaire which will be distributed to participants in partnership with local District Health Boards. The survey will assess the patients’ mobility, ask specific questions related to satisfaction with prosthetic and orthotic devices and associated services, and will contain the Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction with Assistive Technology questionnaire (QUEST). This work has the potential to change healthcare policy and approaches to better serve the populations under New Zealand’s Ministry of Health.