Job satisfaction and health experience of people with a lower-limb amputation in comparison with healthy colleagues.
OBJECTIVE
To describe indicators of job dissatisfaction among amputee employees and to compare job satisfaction and health experience of working amputee employees with that of control subjects.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study, mailed questionnaire.


METHODS
Patients were recruited by the orthopedic workshops of the Netherlands.


METHODS
One hundred forty-four patients who had an acquired unilateral major amputation of the lower limb at least 2 years before, were aged 18 to 60 years (mean age, 43y), and were living and working in the Netherlands. One hundred forty-four control subjects matched for age, gender, and type of job.


METHODS
Not applicable.


METHODS
Statistical analysis of responses to a questionnaire regarding patient characteristics and amputation-related factors, amputee patients' opinions about their work and the social atmosphere at work, and their general health (RAND 36-Item Health Survey [RAND-36]).


RESULTS
People with an amputation had greater job satisfaction (70%) than did the able-bodied control group (54%). The wish for (better) modifications in the workplace and the presence of comorbidity were significantly related to job dissatisfaction in people with limb loss. Amputee employees were less often hindered by the failures of others and by fluctuations in temperature. People with limb loss showed a worse physical health experience than controls on the RAND-36.


CONCLUSIONS
The vocational satisfaction of people with limb loss may be improved by better workplace modifications, depending on the functional capabilities of the person and the functional demands of the job; improvement may also be achieved by vocational rehabilitation programs, especially for those with an amputation in combination with other morbidity. Despite experiencing more health problems, the amputee group expressed greater job satisfaction than the able-bodied group, reflecting a great appreciation of job reintegration by people with a lower-limb amputation.
Schoppen
Tanneke
T
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University Hospital Groningen, The Netherlands. T.Schoppen@rev.azg.nl
Boonstra
Annemarijke
A
Groothoff
Johan W
JW
De Vries
Jaap
J
Göeken
Ludwig N
LN
Eisma
Willem H
WH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000674:Amputees / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D007866:Leg / Q000601:surgery*; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012931:Social Environment