Measuring the level of satisfaction with lower limb prosthetic devices among the users of the centre for the rehabilitation of the paralysed (CRP) and centre for disability in development (CDD).

Abstract

According to the United Nations more than 13 million people is suffering from at least one kind of disability in Bangladesh, furthermore, among those disabled population 22.5% are suffering from physical disability. Amputation and mobility difficulties are prominent causes of disability (Cochrane, et. al. (2015)). About 81% of the people suffer an arterial embolism in the lower extremities have a high chance of developing extensive limb gangrene, RTA accounts for 10%, diabetes and associated complications accounts for 5% and severe limb infections accounts for 2% of lower extremity amputation (Azad, et. al. (2014)). In Bangladesh, CRP and CDD are the renowned organizations in terms of their volume of work on providing assistive technology to the people with amputation and they have own reputation in national level to work with the persons with disabilities. Objectives: To investigate lower-limb prosthetic patients’ satisfaction with their lower limb prosthesis and related services provided at CRP and CDD. Methods: It was a cross sectional descriptive study. Convenience sampling method was used to select 145 patients who answered a modified questionnaire, including the Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction with Assistive Technology questionnaire (QUEST 2.0). Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPPS version 6.0) was used for data analysis. Chi square test was employed to signify association between variables at 0.05 significance levels. Results: Mean age with standard deviation of the CRP and CDD respondents were 38.14 ± 13.37 years and 39.58 ± 11.94 years respectively. In both organizations, majority of the respondents were male. In this study, significant relation was found between device change and device type, difficulties face and device type for respondents of both organizations. Overall, patients were quite satisfied with their prosthetic devices (below knee) and with the services provided from CRP’s P and O department (mean score was 4.35 for BK device, in providing service for BK and AK device mean score were 4.79 and 4.59 respectively out of 5 in QUEST result) and more or less satisfied with above knee prosthesis (mean score was 3.94). But in-contrast patients of CDD were not so happy with AK device (mean score 2.71) and not satisfied at all with the services provided (mean score 1.78) with AK device and more or less satisfied with their below knee prosthetic devices (mean score 3.78) and not very satisfied with the services (mean score 2.14) with their BK device. In CRP, the weight, safety and device adjustments were 20%, 16.67% and 15.83% respectively may be considered as most important satisfaction level and in-contrast CDD indicated that durability, weight and effectiveness were 18.97%, 18.46% and 12.31% respectively, which may be considered as most important satisfaction level. Conclusion: Patients of CRP reported their higher level satisfaction in comparison with the patients of CDD. Limitations in the effectiveness of assistive devices and limited access to follow-up services and repairs were issues desired to be addressed.

Key words: Amputation, Prosthesis, Service, Satisfaction, Rehabilitation.