Quality of life of above knee and below knee amputees after receiving prosthesis

Abstract

Objectives : To study quality of life (QOL) of above knee and below knee amputees after receiving prosthesis.

Methods design : Cross-sectional descriptive study Sixty-three patients who received above knee or below knee prosthesis in Sisaket hopital during July 2011 - June 2012 and Subjects were interviewed with a 2-part questionnaire : demographic data and WHOQOL - BREF - THAI Results : There were 84% males and 16% females with an average age of 45 years old; 17.5% above knee and 82.5% below knee amputees. The average QOL scores of physical, social relationships, environmental and overall were 24.59, 10.10 , 27.32 and 91.32 respectively. These reflected the moderate level of quality of life. The average QOL
scores of psychological was 22.62. This reflected the good level of quality of life. Besides, sex affected physical, psychological and overall QOL score. Male amputees had a higher physical, psychological and overall QOL score than female amputees. Furthermore, income satisfaction were significantly related with environmental and overall QOL
score. Those with income satisfaction had a higher environmental and overall QOL score than those without satisfaction. Period to use prosthesis affected social relationships QOL score. Amputees using prosthesis for 6 months-1 year and 1-5 years had QOL score were significantly different and amputees using prosthesis for 6 months-1 year and 5-10
years had QOL score were significantly different together.

Conclusion : Above knee and below knee amputees had moderate QOL score of physical, social relationships, environmental, overall and good QOL score of psychological which were influenced by sex, income satisfaction
and period to use prosthesis.