title: A survey on activities of daily living and occupations of upper extremity amputees.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess prosthetic use by upper extremity amputees, and their difficulties with prostheses in activities of daily living and occupations.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study is based on a survey of 307 subjects, who were using prostheses manufactured in the Center of Prosthetics and Orthotics. The survey questionnaire included items about general demographic characteristics, side and level of amputation, type of prosthesis and its use, and difficulties in the activities of daily living, employment and driving.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most common type of prosthesis was the cosmetic hand type (80.2%). There were no statistically significant correlations between satisfaction with prosthesis and the amputation level or type of prosthesis. The most common difficulties in daily living activities experienced by amputees were lacing shoes, removing bottle-tops with a bottle opener, and using scissors. Only 7.3% of amputees received rehabilitation services. Less than half of the amputees (44.7%) used their prostheses for eight or more hours a day, and 76.9% used their prostheses for regular or irregular cosmetic purposes. After amputation, most of the respondents (69.0%) became unemployed or changed workplaces.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our study, respondents preferred cosmetic usage to functional usage. Only 30.0% of respondents reported satisfaction with their prostheses. Many of the amputees had difficulties in complex tasks and either changed jobs or became unemployed. Clerical workers were the occupation group, which was most likely to return to work. The development of a more functional prosthetic hand and additional rehabilitation services are required.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Seoul Veterans Hospital, Seoul 134-791, Korea.
authors.forename: Chul Ho
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Hee Seung
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Hea Eun
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Seon Yeong
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ji Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Bong Duck
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.forename: Jae Yung
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Seon Nyeo
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hae Won
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Jeong