An amputee visitor program as an adjunct to rehabilitation of the lower limb amputee.
Based on evaluation of the rehabilitative needs of patients who have had a leg amputated because of cancer, an amputee visitor program was developed. The visitor is a cancer amputee who has successfully completed rehabilitation. About 5 days after a patient's amputation, the visitor sees the patient, telling of personal experiences, answering the patient's questions, and showing the prosthesis. The visitor later evaluates the visit on a data collection sheet. From 1 to 6 months after the visit, the patient and, if possible, a relative are interviewed to determine their long-term reaction to the program. During a 30-month period, 65 new patients were seen and evaluated by two visitors. Sixty (92%) responded favorably to the visit. In follow-up interviews with 36 patients, 33 (92%) said the visit substantially improved their outlook. In summary, our data indicate that the amputee visitor contributes significantly to rehabilitation.
D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D000674:Amputees / Q000523:psychology*; D001186:Artificial Limbs / Q000534:rehabilitation; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg; D008297:Male; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D014838:Volunteers