Measures Of Satisfaction Research Articles

Translation, cross-cultural adaptation, and psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the MedRisk instrument for measuring patient satisfaction with physical therapy care

Purpose This study aimed to translate, cross-culturally adapt, and validate the MedRisk Instrument for Measuring Patient Satisfaction with Physical Therapy Care into Arabic (MRPS-Ar). Materials and Methods The 20-Item MRPS was translated and cross-culturally adapted into Arabic following international guidelines. Patients (n = 229) with musculoskeletal conditions who received physical therapy care completed the MRPS-Ar and global rating of change scale. Of these patients, 95 completed the MRPS-Ar twice. Factor structure, floor and ceiling effects, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and construct validity of the MRPS-Ar were evaluated. Results Principal component analysis suggested 3-factor solution: a 7-item facility experience, 6-item therapeutic experience, and 3-item positive experience. The MRPS-Ar and its factors showed acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha coefficients ranged from 0.819 to 0.936) and excellent test-retest reliability (ICCs ranged from 0.965 to 0.983). The global measures of satisfaction were significantly correlated with the global rating of change (Spearman’s rho = −0.678, p < 0.001 for item “overall satisfaction” and Spearman’s rho = −0.690, p < 0.001 for item “would return”). Conclusions The 18-item MRPS-Ar displayed adequate psychometric properties for measuring patients’ satisfaction with physical therapy care. The MRPS-Ar is a reliable and valid instrument that can be used in medical, clinical, and research fields.

간호사의 교대근무 직무만족도 측정 도구 개발

The purpose of this study was to develop and test the measurement for job satisfaction of the shift work nurses. In accordance with the stages of scale development by DeVellis, 10 expert nursing administrators reviewed the content validity. 80 voluntary participants answered the initial instrument. Content, construct, and criterion-related validities were analyzed using exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis. Reliability was approved by the Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. As a result of the study, the measuring scale for job satisfaction for the shift work nurses consists of 10 items, with 3 factors. The model fit was good with all indicators (χ2 38.318(p-value .205), RMSEA .050, TLI .955, CFI .974). The Cronbach’s alpha was .775, content validity, criterion-related validity and discriminant validity was all approved but the convergent validity was partially met. A specified measuring scale for job satisfaction of the shift work nurses had been developed and the validity and reliability of the measurement were analyzed. Although the convergent validity was partially not perfectly secured, overall validity and reliability of the measurement had been approved. It may be necessary to repeatedly measure job satisfaction related to shift work using the developed scale among a larger sample of subjects to ensure the validity of the developed measurement. Furthermore, it is expected that by utilizing the developed measurement, the job satisfaction of nurses working shifts can be measured and used as an indicator for organizational performance improvement.

Self-esteem and body image satisfaction in women with PCOS in the Middle East: Cross-sectional social media study.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in women of childbearing age, associated with increased incidence of emotional disorders, anxiety and depression. The aim was of this study was to investigate whether those women reporting PCOS differed to women without PCOS in measures of psychological well-being including body-image satisfaction and self-esteem across a Middle Eastern population. An online survey link of 21 questions was shared and distributed across social media platforms (Instagram and WhatsApp). The main outcome measured was levels of self-esteem and body image satisfaction in association with symptoms experienced by the participants. 12,199 female subjects completed the survey of whom 3,329 respondents (27.3%) self-reported a diagnosis of PCOS. PCOS respondents felt less attractive compared to non-PCOS respondents (73.9% vs 80.5%, p<0.0001). More respondents with PCOS reported avoidance of their reflection in the mirror (61.7% vs 49.8%, p<0.001) and avoidance of social interactions (22.3% vs 32.3%, p<0.0001). More PCOS respondents wanted to lose weight (75.2% vs 68.5%, p<0.001) with increasing weight being associated with being less attractive (p<0.001). Fewer PCOS respondents felt satisfied/confident compared non-PCOS respondents (38.6% vs 50.7%, p<0.001). PCOS respondents reported significantly lower measures of self-esteem and body image satisfaction compared to non-PCOS respondents in this population.

Patient satisfaction with pharmaceutical services at primary healthcare centers under the Palestinian Ministry of Health

BackgroundThe measurement of patient satisfaction is a vital metric that enhances stakeholders to take proactive steps in improving the quality of healthcare services within medical care systems. This study assessed patient satisfaction receiving pharmaceutical services from primary health care centers in the Palestinian Ministry of Health (PMoH) governorate directorates in the West Bank.MethodsA total of 938 patients, all aged 18 years or older, completed a self-administered questionnaire. The assessment of general satisfaction was based on selected questions. Analyses were conducted to explore demographic characteristics. Mean and standard deviation (S.D.) were reported. Likert method was used to average scale satisfaction. To examine statistically significant differences, Chi-square analysis and binary logistic analysis were employed.Results56.8% of the survey respondents were women, 57.2% were 40 years or older, and 63.2% had graduated from high school. The general satisfaction score averaged 4.10 ± 0.77 indicating good satisfaction. Patients were satisfied with interpersonal relationships, with a mean score of 4.19 ± 0.70. However, satisfaction with therapy management was lower, with a mean score of 3.99 ± 0.77 indicating moderate satisfaction. A significant factor can affect patient’s satisfaction such as the location of the pharmacy (OR = 1.720, P = 0.012), the waiting area (OR = 1.671, P = 0.002) and the cleanness of pharmacy (OR = 2.307, P = 0.001).ConclusionThis study underlines the main components of patient satisfaction who receive pharmaceutical services in PMoH. It is highly recommended that PMoH must address patient dissatisfaction points in a total quality management plan.

Role of Emotional Intelligence, in Relationship between Compassion Satisfaction, Compassion Fatigue and Quality of Life Among Nurses Working in ICU

Background: Intensive Care Unit (ICU) nurses encounter emotionally taxing situations that can affect their well-being, making the examination of factors such as emotional intelligence (EI), compassion satisfaction, and fatigue crucial in understanding their quality of life. Objective: This study aimed to explore the interplay between EI, compassion satisfaction, compassion fatigue, and quality of life among ICU nurses, and to examine the mediating role of EI in these relationships. Methods: A convenience sampling method was employed to collect data from 167 ICU nurses using a structured online questionnaire. Demographic data and measures for compassion satisfaction, fatigue, EI, and quality of life were analyzed using SPSS version 25. Path coefficients and mediation analysis were conducted using Partial Least Squares (PLS). Results: The majority of participants were below 30 years (76.2%) and female (67.9%). EI positively correlated with quality of life (path coefficient = 0.139, p = 0.007) and was a partial mediator between compassion satisfaction and quality of life. Higher compassion satisfaction was significantly associated with increased EI and quality of life (path coefficients = 0.264 and 0.628, respectively, p &lt; 0.001). Gender-based analysis revealed differences in quality of life (Males: M = 100.65, SD = 7.98; Females: M = 96.58, SD = 12.59; p = 0.035) and compassion fatigue (Males: M = 65.24, SD = 7.77; Females: M = 61.42, SD = 8.59; p = 0.007). Conclusion: Emotional intelligence is instrumental in enhancing quality of life by mediating the effects of compassion satisfaction and fatigue among ICU nurses. These insights suggest that interventions aimed at increasing EI may be beneficial for nurses facing the demanding conditions of ICU environments.

The feasibility and acceptability of integrating dogs into inpatient rehabilitation therapy with children with acquired brain injury.

Children with acquired brain injury (ABI) are at risk for poor therapeutic engagement due to cognitive impairment, affect lability, pain, and fatigue. Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) has the potential to improve patient engagement in rehabilitation therapies; however, the feasibility of integrating AAT into the rigorous therapy schedule of inpatient clinical care or its reception by patients, families, and staff is unknown. To examine the feasibility and acceptability of incorporating dogs into physical therapy and occupational therapy sessions with pediatric patients being treated on an inpatient rehabilitation unit for acquired brain injury. A feasibility study of AAT within the context of a within-subjects crossover study. Pediatric inpatient rehabilitation unit. Sixteen patients, aged 7-28 years (mean = 13.6 years, standard deviation [SD] = 5.2 years; 50% male), being treated on the inpatient rehabilitation unit following ABI. AAT - the integration of dogs into inpatient physical therapy and occupational therapy sessions. Feasibility measures: enrollment rate, the proportion of AAT sessions a dog attended, adverse events, instances where therapist or handler ended session early, patient animal closeness, and utilization of dog in session. Satisfaction measures: parent satisfaction questionnaires and therapist feedback. Feasibility was supported by high enrollment rate (88.9%) and dog attendance rate of 93%-95%; 84.3% of sessions used the dog in multiple ways and patients reported a high level of closeness with the dog in session, indicating that the dogs were integrated in meaningful ways. No adverse events were noted, therapists reported that intervention was convenient, and clinical care was not negatively impacted. A high level of satisfaction was reported by families and therapists. Findings suggest that AAT is feasible and acceptable, and it may be a valuable tool for therapists working with patients with ABI on an inpatient rehabilitation unit.

An improved IPA approach driven by big data and its application to customer satisfaction research of energy-saving appliance

Against the backdrop of increasing global demand for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, promoting the use of energy-saving and environmentally friendly products has become a crucial aspect of low-carbon economic development. Customer satisfaction plays a vital role in the promotion of these products. To address the challenges of dealing with big data in the conventional customer satisfaction analysis tool, Importance Performance Analysis (IPA), a machine learning-based method is proposed to improve IPA. Firstly, the Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) model is used to capture users’ opinions on different product topics. Then, the Support Vector Machine (SVM) and Random Forest (RF) algorithms are employed respectively to assess the satisfaction and importance of product attributes, enabling an objective measurement of customer satisfaction and adapting to the current trend of big data. The proposed method is applied to the analysis of water heater satisfaction on the JD platform, obtaining satisfaction levels for 10 topics. The research findings demonstrate that the improved IPA method based on SVM-RF effectively explores customer satisfaction and can provide some improvement strategies for platform managers and manufacturers.

A randomized controlled trial of an online single session intervention for body image in individuals with recurrent binge eating.

Theoretical models highlight body image disturbances as central to the maintenance of eating disorders, with empirical evidence finding negative body image to be a robust predictor of treatment nonresponse, relapse and symptom persistence. Accessible, scalable, and inexpensive interventions that can effectively target negative body image across the eating disorders are needed. We developed an online single session intervention (SSI) for negative body image and evaluated its acceptability and efficacy in a randomized controlled trial in individuals with recurrent binge eating. Participants with recurrent binge eating were randomly assigned to the SSI (n = 99) or a waitlist (n = 101). Assessments were conducted at baseline, 4 week follow-up, and 8 week follow-up. 81% of participants accessed the SSI, demonstrating reasonable uptake. However, issues with attrition were apparent; a 32% study dropout rate was observed at posttest, while a 58% dropout rate was observed at follow-up. 87% of participants who completed satisfaction measures would recommend the SSI. SSI participants experienced greater improvements in negative body image at both 4 (d = -0.65) and 8 week (d = -0.74) follow-up. Significant between-group effects were also observed on most other secondary symptom measures, though no differences were found for motivations and help-seeking beliefs and intentions. Body image-focused self-guided SSIs for recurrent binge are largely accepted by those who are retained in the trial, but are associated with significant attrition. Although SSIs are not intended to replace standard treatment, they may help with short-term symptom management and could play an important role in eating disorder care. Single session interventions (SSI) are a potentially accessible, scalable, and cost-effective way to deliver evidence-based treatment content to people with eating disorders. This study shows that an online (SSI) designed to target body image among people with recurrent binge eating is accepted and produced short-term symptom relief.

User satisfaction with child and adolescent mental health services: the association between user satisfaction and clinical outcomes

BackgroundThis study aimed to examine the association between user satisfaction and clinical outcomes with child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) from the perspective of young people and their parents. The evidence bases for CAMHS user satisfaction measures are limited, with few studies investigating the link between user satisfaction and clinical outcomes. In particular, the perspectives of young people are missing.MethodsThe parent and youth versions of the Experience of Service Questionnaire (ESQ), which evaluates the factors of general satisfaction (GS), satisfaction with care (SWC) and satisfaction with environment (SWE), were used to measure user satisfaction. The outcome measures were scores on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), Children’s Global Assessment Scale (CGAS), and Health of the Nation Outcome Scales for Children and Adolescents (HoNOSCA). Hierarchical regression analysis was conducted on data collected from 233 young people and 495 parents who utilized CAMHS services.ResultsGS and SWC predicted outcomes for both young people (ΔR2 = 0.08, p <.05) and parents (ΔR2 = 0.01, p <.05), indicating that user satisfaction had a significant impact on clinical outcomes for CAMHS users. In addition, GS and SWC significantly predicted young people-reported outcomes in the interaction model (ΔR2 = 0.10, p <.05), while no significant association was found with parent-reported outcomes (ΔR2 = 0.02, p =.09).ConclusionUser satisfaction, particularly for young people, has a significant impact on clinical outcomes. The causal relationship between user satisfaction and mental health outcomes requires further study.

Determinants of Academic Satisfaction: An Empirical Analysis of a Brazilian National Institute

Objective: The present investigation aims to identify the explanatory factors for academic satisfaction, as well as the influence that the identified factors have on the degree of academic satisfaction in its global context and on the chances of the institution's recommendation to friends and family. Method: The investigation was conducted with a sample of 290 students from the Federal Institute of Education, Science, and Technology of Piauí (FIEPI-Campus Oeiras). The instrument used for data collection was a questionnaire. The statistical techniques used were of a descriptive, exploratory, and multivariate nature for the treatment, analysis, and validation of the results. Results and Discussion: The results indicate that Academic Satisfaction is determined by the factors (1) Teaching Environment and (2) Structural Environment and that there is a significant decrease in Academic Satisfaction when students move from the group from High School to Higher Education due to the determinants satisfaction. Research Implications: The development of strategies for the maintenance and attraction of new students by FIEPI-Campus Oeiras and other educational institutions must be based on academic satisfaction considering their specificities, namely, concerning the different perceptions and expectations generated by students about educational services. Originality/Value: The relevance of this investigation is based on the fact that the measurement of student satisfaction by a given educational institution becomes essential for it to understand the perception of its students about its products and services, enabling the identification of new ways of generating satisfaction and loyalty.

Work Satisfaction and Related Variables among Nurses Employed in Particular Hospitals in Mogadishu, Somalia

Purpose: The objective of this research was to evaluate the degree of job satisfaction and related variables among nurses employed at specific hospitals in Mogadishu, Somalia.  Methods A cross-sectional, descriptive research approach was employed, and a sample of 120 nurses was included in the study. The intended sample was chosen using a straightforward random sampling procedure. Data were gathered using a pre-tested, structured, self- administered questionnaire including a work satisfaction measure. Descriptive statistics were used for analysis after the obtained data were loaded into SPSS version 20.0.  Results The study used 120 study participants in total. Of the nurse practitioners, 41 (34.2%) expressed dissatisfaction with their work. Among the research subjects; 45(37.5%) dissatisfied with payment (salary). Regarding the options for pursuing a postgraduate degree in nursing or additional education 40 (33.3%) were dissatisfied. More than half of participants 75 (62.5%) were decided to resign from current employment due to payment (salary) issues.  Conclusions The nursing staff expressed dissatisfaction with possibilities for professional growth, recognition, low pay, inadequate benefits, doing many incorrect jobs, and increased workload. It is recommended that actions be taken to improve working conditions, pay, and human resource policies in order to raise the degree of job satisfaction among nursing staff.

Feasibility of a Cognitive-Behavioral Couple Therapy Intervention for Sexual Interest/Arousal Disorder

ABSTRACT Female sexual interest/arousal disorder (SIAD) is strongly influenced by interpersonal factors; however, there are no empirically-supported, couple-based sex therapy interventions for this disorder. This pre-registered study tested the feasibility of a cognitive-behavioral couple therapy (CBCT) intervention for SIAD. A sample of 19 couples in which a female partner was diagnosed with SIAD completed a 16-session CBCT intervention delivered online by therapists with PhD-level training in clinical psychology. Women with SIAD (M age = 43.47, SD = 12.76) and their partners (M age = 43.74, SD = 11.68) were in long-term relationships (M = 13.86, SD = 9.15). The CBCT sessions were video recorded and independently coded for treatment manual adherence and therapists reported on the completion of in-session and homework exercises. Participants completed measures of treatment satisfaction following the intervention as well as dyadic sexual desire (women with SIAD only) and sexual distress prior to treatment, post-treatment, and at 6 months follow-up. The therapists exhibited a high level of adherence to the treatment manual and couples had high rates of homework completion. Moreover, couples had low dropout rates, high attendance rates, and reported moderately high global treatment satisfaction and high satisfaction with virtual care. Women with SIAD reported large improvements in dyadic sexual desire and sexual distress from pre-treatment to post-treatment and pre-treatment to 6-month follow-up. Partners reported moderate and small improvements in sexual distress for post-treatment and 6-month follow-up, respectively. Results support the feasibility of an evidence-based CBCT intervention for SIAD and the need for a randomized clinical trial of the intervention.

Orthodontic treatment for prominent lower front teeth (Class III malocclusion) in children.

Orthodontic treatment for prominent lower front teeth (Class III malocclusion) in children.

Explainable Artificial Intelligence based Detection and Early Diagnosis of Polycystic Ovaries Syndrome using Optimized Hybrid Deep Learning Technique

Customer satisfaction is directly related with the customer retention. The marketer should understand the needs and expectations of his customers for making an effective marketing strategy. Measurement of customer satisfaction enables the firm to deliver maximum value to the customer. Delivering the values to customers facilitates in the creation of loyal customers. The main thrust area among these challenges is the dissatisfaction of customers. The main reason behind this dissatisfaction is the expectations of modern customers who are tech-savvy guys. The digitalization in the area of business is likely to continue in future which will create more challenges before the marketers. Hence customer satisfaction cannot be ignored in the modern digital age

Bridging the Gap: Smile in Any Language

This case focuses on English language preparation in the hospitality industry. Recruiting and retaining employees is an important component of any human resource plan. Safe and effective operations are a measure of employee satisfaction. The increased sourcing of new employees in limited-service hotels that require minimum levels of English proficiency has increased steadily. Incorporating English Language Acquisition (ELA) into a training and development plan presents unique challenges not addressed in the hospitality curriculum nor in many management training programs. This case deals with English language proficiency in a select-service hotel from the perspective of a General Manager.

Use of a SimBox, a Video-Augmented, Newborn Resuscitation Simulation for Prehospital Providers to Measure Clinical Performance and Educational Experience.

Few studies have described the current clinical practices, adherence to guidelines, and outcomes of newborn resuscitations attended by emergency medical services (EMS). SimBox, a novel, video-augmented simulation, was used to describe the adherence of prehospital providers to Neonatal Resuscitation Program guidelines, to measure satisfaction with the simulation intervention, and to describe the self-reported improvement in knowledge, skills, and attitudes after the simulation. A prospective observational cohort study of EMS providers was designed and conducted using SimBox, an open-access simulation platform, and facilitated by EMS educators. Clinical performance measures were collected using a five-item checklist. Simulation satisfaction measures were collected through net promoter scores. Learners' demographics, and self-reported knowledge, skills, and attitudes were measured using a retrospective survey of 25 questions. In total, 33 facilitator and 55 learner surveys were collected across Connecticut, Colorado, and Alaska between July 2021 and September 2022. At least one deviation from clinical guidelines occurred in 22/30 (73.3%) of the sessions, with 10/30 (33.3%) teams inappropriately performing chest compressions, 5/31 (16.1%) teams not warming, drying, stimulating, and suctioning the newborn, and 7/31 (22.6%) teams not performing positive pressure ventilation correctly. Lastly, 10/30 (33.3%) teams administered an incorrect dose of dextrose-containing fluids. Very high levels of satisfaction were reported with net promoter scores of 97 and 82 out of 100 for the facilitator and learner surveys, respectively. Finally, all 55/55 (100%) of the learners strongly or somewhat agreed that the simulation improved their knowledge, teamwork, communication, and psychomotor skills. In this cohort of prehospital providers, clinical management decisions during a newborn resuscitation simulation often deviated from the gold-standard, newborn resuscitation guidelines. Free, online, open-access simulation resources like SimBox can be used to identify and measure practice deviations from standardized resuscitation protocols in the prehospital setting.

Predicting psychological need satisfaction and frustration from early maladaptive schemas and DSM-5 and ICD-11 personality traits

The satisfaction of basic psychological needs is closely connected with an individual’s well-being and mental health. The purpose of the present study was to examine the associations of persistent and pervasive negative cognitions about oneself and others (early maladaptive schemas) and pathological personality traits (DSM-5 and ICD-11 personality traits) with the satisfaction and frustration of basic psychological needs. To this aim, self-report measures of psychological need satisfaction (Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction and Frustration Scale), early maladaptive schemas (Young Schema Questionnaire – Short Form 3), and pathological personality traits (Modified Personality Inventory for DSM-5 and ICD-11 – Brief Form Plus), were administered in a community sample (N = 322, Mage = 35.3 years, SDage = 12.5 years, 66% female). The data were analyzed using correlation analysis, linear regression analysis, and a machine-learning approach (XGBoost). The results showed strong negative relationships of early maladaptive schemas and pathological personality traits with the satisfaction and frustration of the needs for autonomy, relatedness, and competence, especially the disconnection/rejection and impaired autonomy/performance schema domains and the pathological personality traits of negative affectivity and detachment. Early maladaptive schemas predicted the frustration of the psychological needs for relatedness and competence above pathological personality traits. The study findings add to the understanding of current psychological need satisfaction.

A new subjective well-being index using anchored best-worst scaling

Subjective well-being (SWB) describes an individual's life evaluation. Direct elicitation methods for SWB via rating scales do not force individuals to trade-off among life domains, whilst best-worst scaling (BWS) approaches only provide relative measures. This paper instead offers a dual-response BWS task, where respondents nominate areas of most and least importance and satisfaction with respect to 11 SWB domains, whilst also eliciting anchoring points to obtain an absolute measure of domain satisfaction. Combining domain satisfaction and importance produces a robust measure of individual SWB, but statistically unique relative to other life satisfaction measures utilizing single- and multi-item ratings, including global satisfaction and those aggregated over SWB domains, as well as eudemonia. Surveying 2500 Australians reveals anchored-BWS improves discrimination amongst domains in terms of importance and satisfaction, illustrating its value as a diagnostic tool for SWB measurement to focus services, policy, and initiatives in areas to most impact wellbeing. This includes highlighting a major discrepancy between health satisfaction and importance, whilst also reporting that SWB is significantly lower for Indigenous, unemployed, middle-aged, males and lower income groups.

Sagittal and transverse ankle angle coupling can influence prosthetic socket transverse plane moments.

The intact foot and ankle comprise a complex set of joints that allow rotation in multiple planes of motion. Some of these motions are coupled, meaning rotation in one plane induces motion in another. One such coupling is between the sagittal and transverse planes. For every step, plantar- and dorsi-flexion motion is coupled with external and internal rotation of the shank relative to the foot, respectively. There is no prosthetic foot available for prescription that mimics this natural coupling. The purpose of this study was to determine if a sagittal:transverse ankle angle coupling ratio exists that minimizes the peak transverse plane moment during prosthetic limb stance. A novel, torsionally active prosthesis (TAP) was used to couple sagittal and transverse plane motions using a 60-watt motor. An embedded controller generated transverse plane rotation trajectories proportional to sagittal plane ankle angles corresponding to sagittal:transverse coupling ratios of 1:0 (rigid coupling analogous to the standard-of-care), 6:1, 4:1, 3:1, and 2:1. Individuals with unilateral transtibial amputation were block randomized to walk in a straight line and in both directions around a 2 m circle at their self-selected speed with the TAP set at randomized coupling ratios. The primary outcome was the peak transverse plane moment, normalized to body mass, during prosthetic limb stance. Secondary outcomes included gait biomechanic metrics and a measure of satisfaction. Eleven individuals with unilateral transtibial amputations participated in the study. The 6:1 coupling ratio resulted in reduced peak transverse plane moments in pairwise comparisons with 3:1 and 2:1 coupling ratios while walking in a straight line and with the prosthesis on the outside of the circle (p < .05). Coupling ratio had no effect on gait biomechanic metrics or satisfaction. The general pattern of results suggests a quadratic relationship between the peak transverse plane moment and coupling ratio with a minimum at the 6:1 coupling ratio. The coupling ratio did not appear to adversely affect propulsion or body support. Subjects indicated they found all coupling ratios to be comfortable. While a mechatronic prosthesis like the TAP may have limited commercial potential, our future work includes testing a robust, passive prosthetic foot with a fixed coupling ratio.

Heat and Acupuncture to Manage Osteoarthritis of the Knee (HARMOKnee): Protocol for an Effectiveness-Implementation Hybrid Randomized Controlled Trial.

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is one of most prevalent and fastest-growing causes of pain, impaired mobility, and poor quality of life in the rapidly aging population worldwide. There is a lack of high-quality evidence on the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), particularly acupuncture, and a lack of KOA practice guidelines that are tailored to unique population demographics and tropical climates. Our HARMOKnee (Heat and Acupuncture to Manage Osteoarthritis of the Knee) trial aims to address these gaps by evaluating the short- and medium-term clinical and cost-effectiveness of acupuncture with heat therapy in addition to standard care, compared to standard care alone. Through a robust process and economic evaluation, we aim to inform evidence-based practice for patients with KOA to facilitate the large-scale implementation of a comprehensive and holistic model of care that harmonizes elements of Western medicine and TCM. We hypothesize that acupuncture with heat therapy as an adjunct to standard care is clinically more effective than standard care alone. A multicenter, pragmatic, parallel-arm, single-blinded, effectiveness-implementation hybrid randomized controlled trial will be conducted. We intend to recruit 100 patients with KOA randomized to either the control arm (standard care only) or intervention arm (acupuncture with heat therapy, in addition to standard care). The inclusion criteria are being a community ambulator and having primary KOA, excluding patients with secondary arthritis or previous knee replacements. The primary outcome measure is the Knee Osteoarthritis Outcome Score at 6 weeks. Secondary outcome measures include psychological, physical, quality of life, satisfaction, and global outcome measures at 6, 12, and 26 weeks. A mixed method approach through an embedded process evaluation will facilitate large-scale implementation. An economic evaluation will be performed to assess financial sustainability. Patient enrollment has been ongoing since August 2022. The recruitment process is anticipated to conclude by July 2024, and the findings will be analyzed and publicized as they are obtained. As of November 6, 2023, our patient enrollment stands at 65 individuals. The findings of our HARMOKnee study will contribute substantial evidence to the current body of literature regarding the effectiveness of acupuncture treatment for KOA. Additionally, we aim to facilitate the creation of standardized national guidelines for evidence-based practice that are specifically tailored to our unique population demographics. Furthermore, we seek to promote the adoption and integration of acupuncture and heat therapy into existing treatment models. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05507619; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05507619. DERR1-10.2196/54352.