Practice Analysis of Certified Technicians in the Disciplines of Orthotics and Prosthetics

In 2016 the American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics and Pedorthics, Inc. (ABC), contracted with Professional Examination Service (ProExam) to develop and implement a practice analysis and validation study for orthotic and prosthetic technicians.

ABC performed technician practice analyses and validation studies in 1999 and in 2009. In 2016, as planned, technicians were resurveyed in order to identify changes related to orthotic and prosthetic care, available componentry and the technology in use today. The respondents to the survey have provided a great service to the profession. It is imperative that technicians and the profession recognize the importance of studies such as this that provide vital information to standard setting organizations.

Why Do a Practice Analysis Study?

The goal of the practice analysis is to determine current trends in the provision of prosthetic and orthotic services by technicians.

Why Do a Validation Study?

The goal of the validation study was to identify priorities unique in the delivery of orthotic and prosthetic care, e.g., What highly critical tasks are performed by all technicians? What subset of knowledge and skills is essential? Which procedures are most frequently implemented?

What Will ABC Do With the Results of the Study?

The results are being used to generate defensible credentialing test specifications designed for entry-level orthotic and prosthetic technicians. The results will also be used to identify specific topics for in-service and/or continuing education, and to provide guidance for educational program enhancement in regard to curriculum review and/or programmatic self-assessment.

The Specific Objectives of the Study Were To:

• Conduct a comprehensive practice analysis of the disciplines of orthotic and prosthetic technicians by updating and validating the domains of practice, the specific tasks performed and the associated knowledge and skills required to perform each task
• Collect information describing demographic and professional characteristics of certified technicians
• Quantify time spent and tasks performed with regard to various orthotic and prosthetic devices
• Develop defensible test specifications for the disciplines of orthotic and prosthetic technicians in connection with the credentialing examinations for certified technicians

Task Force Selection

ABC selected a Practice Analysis Task Force (PATF) to undertake the major work involved in updating the delineation of practice. The PATF was selected to represent a wide range of key background characteristics, such as: certified technicians in orthotics, prosthetics and those certified as technicians in both disciplines, as well as those with additional ABC credentials; those closer to the point of certification and more experienced practitioners; individuals from different work settings and representing various geographic regions; those with previous experience in ABC practice analysis studies; those having held leadership positions in ABC, or having served in other capacities such as member of the exam committees; and individuals new to the practice analysis process.

ProExam completed the following steps in collaboration with the PATF:

• Pre-meeting data collection with PATF
• Conducted two meetings of the PATF
• Revised the delineation and more closely aligned it with that developed for other ABC credentialing programs
• Developed and conducted an online survey, the Practice Analysis Survey of Orthotic and Prosthetic Technicians. The survey comprised two versions, including alternate forms of Section 1, as described below:

- Introduction: Including a description of the purpose of the survey and instructions for completing the survey

- Screening Question: To determine if respondent had been practicing as an orthotic and/or prosthetic technician in the past 12 months

- Routing question: Respondents selected the discipline from which they were responding to the survey. Dually-certified individuals selected either orthotics or prosthetics.

- Section 1: Respondents were randomly routed to rate either Tasks or Knowledge and Skills

+ Tasks, including 34 tasks delineated in association with eight domains of practice (plus a question about missing tasks), or

+ Knowledge and Skills, including 54 knowledge and skills statements (plus a question about missing KSs)

- Section 2: Domains, including eight domains of practice

- Section 3: Respondents were routed to either the Orthotic or Prosthetic Practice Area and Device Lists, depending on their response to the routing question at the beginning of the survey. All respondents then answered questions about work activities related to both disciplines.

- Section 4: Open-ended questions regarding changes in practice.

- Section 5: Background Questionnaire, including questions about the respondent’s educational and professional background, work setting and demographic characteristics.

Survey Return Rate

The overall response rate was 30%. This was derived by dividing the number of completed surveys by the number of valid invitations sent, defined as the number of invitations emailed minus those returned as undeliverable. One hundred-fifty certified technicians completed the survey. This is a very good response rate for a long and complex online survey such as the present study, and is comparable to response rates achieved in surveys of other professions. Respondents occasionally left questions blank, therefore the number of respondents may have been less than 150.