Information Overload

Information Overload

Ian Gregson

10/31/1997

Fellow OandP'ers

As some of ou many know I run the Amputee WEB Site throught portal.ca here
in Vancouver.

Since mid summer I have had two online surveys available to fill in for
anyone with the time of day to do so.

The first was a general survey about amputation, prosthetic use, and the
usual qualifiying questions about income, education etc.

The second was asurvey on products on service. This measured prosthetic
use, satisfaction with prosthetists and the industry in general.

Trouble is I've got almost 100 of these surveys and don't know really what
to do with the information. I think the information would be interesting
for anyone running a prosthetic facility, but of course most of you are
interested in running your facility NOT reading surveys.

If anyone has any (polite) suggestions on what I can do with the
information gathered from this survey I'd be more than interested in
hearing from you. I intend to keep this survey online for at least another
month or until I get about 200 responses, whichever comes first.

Here are the questions (not to be filled in by anyone from this list)

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Welcome to the AMPUTEE WEB Site Product and Service Evaluation Survey

This survey is to be completed on a voluntary and on an anonymous basis.
The survey is to establish criteria and data on why some amputees use
prosthetic limbs and some do not. It will also establish which products
are being used and their effectiveness. And to determine customer
service levels with the various medical professionals involved in
amputation. Feel free to answer the questions that apply to you, we are
looking for your opinion only.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

USAGE

A1. How long have you been an amputee?

A2. At what age did you become an amputee?

A3. How did you lose your limb(s)?

A4. If you currently do not use a prosthetic limb or limbs, please
explain why not:

A5. Approximately how many prosthetic limbs have you had built since
first becoming an amputee?

A6. Of this number of limbs built for you, how many would consider a
good fit?

A7. Please indicate the single most signifcant aspect of a prosthetic
limb



CUSTOMER SERVICE



B1. How satisfied are you with your current

a. Prosthetist

b. Family Doctor

c. Ortho Surgeon

d. Physiotherapist

e. Other medical professional



Here are some questions on the level of customer service specifically
from your experiences with prosthetists.



B2. Since you became an amputee how many prosthetists or prosthetic
companies have you been a patient or client of?

B3.a If there is one negative concern you have about prosthetists in
general, what is it?

b. If there is one positive concern you have about prosthetists in
general, what is it?

B4. Do you follow the instructions of your prosthetist?

B5. Do you respect the opinion of your current prosthetist?

B6. Do you have a specific prosthetist that works with you or do you
work with whichever prosthetist is available?

B7. Do you prefer working with the same prosthetist or does it make no
difference to you?

B8. Do you prefer to adjust or maintain your own prosthetic limb(s)

B9. If you DO prefer to adjust or maintain your own prosthetic limb(s)
what are your main reasons for doing so?

B10. Does your prosthetist support or oppose the adjustment of your own
prosthetic limb?

B11. When it comes down to who decides which prosthetic parts are best
for you who determines the final decision?

B12a. If your current prosthetist were to move to another facility
across town would you

b. If your current prosthetist were to move to another facility in
another state/province would you

B13. How far would you travel to obtain the best prosthetic care
available?

B14. Regardless of how you currently pay for your prosthetic services,
do you believe that prices for prosthetic products and services are : very
reasonable, moderately reasonable, moderately overpriced, very overpriced





PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE

C1 Do you know the brand name(s) of the prosthetic products you are
currently using?

C2 How important is it that a user of prosthetic products should be
familiar with the names of prosthetic products as a consumer?

C3 What is your main source of information on prosthetic products?

C4 Can you list the names of the prosthetic products you are currently
using (this includes everything from knees, hands, liners, feet, socks,
etc..)

C5 Can you list the names of any other prosthetic products that you have
seen, read or heard about?

C6 What do you consider the most effective method of advertising
prosthetic products and services?

C7 What do you consider the most important issue facing amputees in the
world today?




The following questions are for statistical purposes only.

What is your geographic location? (be as specific as you like):

In what year were you born?

How many children under the age of 18 live in your household?

Please select which broad category best describes the total annual
income before taxes of all people living in your household (estimates
are in US dollars)

Please select the highest level of education you have attained

Please add any comments about the survey here:




=================================================================
Ian Gregson ( <Email Address Redacted> )
Amputee WEB Site <> AMPUTATION Online Magazine
www.portal.ca/~igregson/index.html
Moderator Amputee & D-Sport Listservs
=================================================================