Effect of different undergarment designs on the compliance and acceptance of the patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis under orthotic treatment.

BACKGROUND

Patient's acceptance and compliance to spinal orthosis could influence the outcome of orthotic treatment in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Two innovative undergarments (thin and thick designs) were designed to improve the patient's orthosis wearing experience and acceptance.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of patients' self-provided undergarment and 2 newly designed undergarments with respect to the orthosis wearing compliance and quality of life (QoL) measures.

METHODS

A prospective randomized-controlled study was conducted to compare the effect of three types of undergarments. Thirty-eight subjects with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis were randomly assigned to one of the three groups: self-provided, thin-design, or thick-design undergarment. Wearing compliance logbook, Scoliosis Research Society questionnaire, and Brace Questionnaire were used to document the orthosis wearing period and quantify the health-related and orthosis-related QoL measures. Kruskal-Wallis one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Friedman two-way ANOVA by ranks tests were conducted for intergroup and intragroup comparisons, respectively.

RESULTS

The compliance and QoL domains of the subjects in the thin-design undergarment group were significantly higher than those of the other two undergarment groups (P < .05). The intragroup compliance and QoL scores varied significantly in the 4 visits throughout the study period (P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

It was observed that an adaptation period toward the prescribed spinal orthosis is required to help patients gradually achieve a more stable acceptance. The thin-design undergarment was ranked higher than the other two tested undergarments in compliance and QoL measures.