DETERMINANTS OF QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG UPPER LIMB PROSTHESIS USERS PAKISTAN: A MULTICENTER STUDY

Objective: To determine the quality of life among users of upper extremity prosthesis. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Day’s Medical Engineering and Artificial Limbs Center Multan and Pakistan Institute of Prosthetic and Orthotic Sciences, Peshawar, Pakistan, from Jul to Dec 2018. Methodology: A sample population of 276 users of upper extremity prosthesis was recruited employing convenience sampling including both genders aged 20-50 years. Demographic sheet, 36- Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) and Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire (Quick-DASH) were used to collect data followed by analysis using SPSS-22. Results: Mean score on Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire was 49.2+25.4. The mean scores of 36- Item Short Form Health Survey revealed highest values in the domains of emotional wellbeing (55.8 ± 17.7) and energy/ fatigue (54.0 ± 14.3) while lowest values were noted in the role limitation due to emotional problems (38.9 ± 33.5) and General Health (43.8 ± 19.6) domains. Conclusion: The study findings concluded that the overall quality of life of upper limb prosthetic user was low along with significant association of demographic features with SF-36 and Quick DASH.