Abstract for: The Dynamics of Prosthetics Care Continuum for Persons with Amputation

As a result of steady population growth, aging population, and significantly increasing rates of diabetes and musculoskeletal conditions, the World Health Organization expects the global persons with amputation (PwA) population to double by 2050. Without proper and timely prosthetic interventions for those having gone through major lower-limb amputations, such PwA experience a significant loss in mobility, quality of life, and life expectancy. However, barriers such as financial burden associated with treatment, healthcare coverage, service capacity constraints, lack of proximity to services, as well as insufficient continuity of care for patients continue to be obstacles. Even for those with prosthesis, about 50% abandon it due to poor outcomes, including discomfort and pain. This study broadly aims to identify high-leverage policies capable of alleviating the barriers to access and reasons for abandonment across the patient journey for PwA, as well as enhancing the health and economic outcomes of prosthetics care. It employs the system dynamics method to construct a simulation model of the prosthetics care continuum for PwA, which is used for scenario analysis and policy testing.