Prostheses Use and Satisfaction among People with Lower-limb Amputation in 10 districts of Bhutan

Abstract

Introduction: The use of lower-limb prostheses restores functional mobility and improves quality of life for people with lower limb amputation. However, the use of prostheses is significantly impacted by users’ satisfaction with their prostheses and service delivery. Therefore, the excellence of prosthetic rehabilitation is not only assessed by the number of prostheses users but is also determined by the level of satisfaction with the prostheses and services received. The study was conducted to determine prostheses use and satisfaction among people with lower-limb amputation.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among lower-limb prosthetic users in 10 districts of Bhutan. Data was collected by face-to-face interview using the Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction with Assistive Technology (QUEST) questionnaire. Participants were recruited by purposive sampling.

Results: The study found that 96.4% of persons with lower-limb amputation currently used prostheses and 79% of them have used it for more than 7 hours/day. However, 44% of prostheses needed repair. The total QUEST score of satisfaction was 4.0 (SD 0.5).

Conclusion: Majority of lower-limb prostheses are in use and the users reported being quite satisfied with their prostheses and service delivery. The study recommends initiating follow-up services to improve prosthetic use and overall satisfaction scores for both prostheses and service delivery.