Abstract:
Despite a good understanding of risk factors for amputation and the development of multidisciplinary amputation prevention teams, thousands of lower limb amputations are performed on a daily basis. These amputations are often transformative events in the lives of patients with functional, psychological, social, and economic implications. The objective of this investigation is to qualitatively and quantitatively explore the perceived concerns of patients with chronic wounds at risk for lower extremity amputation. A guided, physician-administered survey was completed by consenting participants. The survey consisted of both open-ended questions and a 10-point scale for specific questions on a variety of potential patient concerns. Although some questions resulted in relatively high and low mean scores, 9 of the 13 specific questions produced a range of responses on a 10-point modified Likert scale. This indicates that there are not necessarily universal patient concerns and that every patient is different and should be treated as such. With that being said, however, the highest levels of concern (mean measurements ≥ 7/10) had to do with recurrence, function, walking, and self-sufficiency. The lowest levels of concern (mean measurement ≤ 5/10) had to do with pain, shoe gear considerations, cost, and cosmetic appearance of an amputation.
Cornell, Meyr, , , , , , , (2017). Perceived Concerns of Patients at Risk for Lower Extremity Amputation. Wounds : a compendium of clinical research and practice, 2017 Oct;():. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29091033