Investigation of the relationship between lower extremity orthesis satisfaction and quality of life and functionality in individuals with stroke

İÇOĞLU, A.V., Investigation of the Relationship Between Satisfaction with Lower Extremity Orthotic Use and Quality of Life and Functionality in Individuals with Stroke, Hacettepe University Graduate School Healt Sciences Prostheties-Orthotics and Biomechanics Department, Master Thesis, Ankara, 2024. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between lower extremity orthosis user satisfaction with quality of life and functionality in individuals with stroke. Forty-four stroke survivors with an average age of 56.91±14.08 were included in the study. Orthosis user satisfaction was evaluated using the Orthosis Prosthesis Users Satisfaction Survey (OPUS), quality of life was evaluated using the Stroke-Specific Quality of Life Scale (SSQL), and functional status was evaluated using the Fugl-Meyer Lower Extremity Scale (FMA-LE) and Timed Up and Go tests (TUG). As a result of the study, the relationships were found between total orthosis satisfaction and SSQL-selfcare (r=-0,412 p=0,005), and upper extremity (r=-0,401 p=0,007); OPUS service and SSQL-self care (r=-0,484 p=0,001); OPUS service and FMA-LE (r=0,880 p=0,001). There was no relationship between OPUS total, service and daily orthosis usage time (p>0,05). While individuals' quality of life and lower extremity functionality were generally at a low level, it was determined that individuals with better functional status had lower orthosis satisfaction because it made ambulation at home difficult. It was thought that raising awareness about the importance of orthosis use in individuals with stroke, checking the suitability and follow-up of orthoses for patients, and obtaining patient opinions during the orthosis production design process would be effective in orthosis use satisfaction.