A Survey on Activities of Daily Living and Occupations of Upper Extremity Amputees.
10.5535/arm.2011.35.6.907
- Author:
Chul Ho JANG
1
;
Hee Seung YANG
;
Hea Eun YANG
;
Seon Yeong LEE
;
Ji Won KWON
;
Bong Duck YUN
;
Jae Yung CHOI
;
Seon Nyeo KIM
;
Hae Won JEONG
Author Information
1. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Seoul Veterans Hospital, Seoul 134-791, Korea. yang7310@naver.com
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Upper extremity amputees;
Prosthesis;
Activities of daily living;
Occupation
- MeSH:
Activities of Daily Living;
Amputation;
Amputees;
Cosmetics;
Surveys and Questionnaires;
Employment;
Hand;
Humans;
Occupations;
Prostheses and Implants;
Return to Work;
Shoes;
Upper Extremity;
Surveys and Questionnaires
- From:Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine
2011;35(6):907-921
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: To assess prosthetic use by upper extremity amputees, and their difficulties with prostheses in activities of daily living and occupations. METHOD: This study is based on a survey of 307 subjects, who were using prostheses manufactured in the Center of Prosthetics and Orthotics. The survey questionnaire included items about general demographic characteristics, side and level of amputation, type of prosthesis and its use, and difficulties in the activities of daily living, employment and driving. RESULTS: The most common type of prosthesis was the cosmetic hand type (80.2%). There were no statistically significant correlations between satisfaction with prosthesis and the amputation level or type of prosthesis. The most common difficulties in daily living activities experienced by amputees were lacing shoes, removing bottle-tops with a bottle opener, and using scissors. Only 7.3% of amputees received rehabilitation services. Less than half of the amputees (44.7%) used their prostheses for eight or more hours a day, and 76.9% used their prostheses for regular or irregular cosmetic purposes. After amputation, most of the respondents (69.0%) became unemployed or changed workplaces. CONCLUSION: In our study, respondents preferred cosmetic usage to functional usage. Only 30.0% of respondents reported satisfaction with their prostheses. Many of the amputees had difficulties in complex tasks and either changed jobs or became unemployed. Clerical workers were the occupation group, which was most likely to return to work. The development of a more functional prosthetic hand and additional rehabilitation services are required.
