Project Description
The doctoral capstone aims to advocate for and highlight occupational therapy's role in rehabilitation for amputees. In partnership with Parkview Hospital Randallia, I have created the Continuum of Care resource to educate, motivate, and support all stakeholders involved in providing the best care for amputees.
Project Planning
Prior to the on-site experience, extensive planning was completed to distinguish the need for the project. To determine the need, I analyzed evidence-based literature from public domains and collaborated with practitioners of varying professions. In doing so, I created a formal needs assessment and literature review.
The amputee population equates to approximately two million people, with just under 200,000 amputations occurring annually (Amputee Coalition, n.d.). Individuals who have undergone amputation are referred to occupational therapy services to increase safety and independence in daily activities; however, these services are often compromised by insurance limitations and policy demands. Current studies prove that the continuation of rehabilitative services positively impacts amputees' quality of life, adherence to prosthetic use, and overall satisfaction with life (Wurdeman et al., 2021). By providing amputees with access to an occupation-based activity program and educating occupational therapy practitioners on best practice measures, we can increase amputees' overall health and well-being.
Project Outcomes
The project had a total of six deliverables which are outlined below.
Evidence-Based Curriculum with Lesson Plans
Certificate of Completion in Course Addressing Limb Loss
Certificate of Completion in Course Addressing Leadership in Healthcare
Future Directions
I aim to continue to advocate for occupational therapy services for niche populations. By advocating, motivating, and supporting occupational therapy practitioners with the resources I have produced during my doctoral capstone experience, I aim to ensure the best practice is provided to all amputees receiving care. If you ever need to reach me in the future, my contact information is as follows:
(p) 219-713-2331 | (e) abigailrthompsons@gmail.com
References
American Occupational Therapy Association (2020). Occupational therapy practice framework: Domain and process (4th ed.). American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 74(Suppl. 2).
Amplitude. (2022, June 8). Gardening for amputees, made easy. https://livingwithamplitude.com/amputee-gardener-sue-kent-bbc-royal-horticultural-society/
Amputee Coalition (n.d.) Limb Loss statistics. https://www.amputee-coalition.org/resources/limb-loss-statistics/
Bhuvaneswar, C. G., Epstein, L. A., & Stern, T. A. (2007). Reactions to amputation: recognition and treatment. Primary Care Companion to the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 9(4), 303–308. https://doi.org/10.4088/pcc.v09n0408
Borgia, M.L., Clark, M.A., Ni, P., Resnik, L. (2022). A psychosocial adjustment measure for persons with upper limb amputation. Canadian Prosthetics & Orthotics Journal, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.33137/cpoj.v5i1.37873
Castillo-Avila, R., Arias-Vázquez, P., González-Castro, T., Tovilla-Zárate, C., Juárez-Rojop, I., López-Narváez, M., & Fresán, A. (2021). Evaluation of the quality of life in individuals with amputations in relation to the etiology of their amputation. A case-control study. In Physiotherapy Theory & Practice, 37 (12), 1313–1320. https://doi.org/10.1080/09593985.2020.1712752
da Cunha Bergo, M. F., & Bazanelli Prebianchi, H. (2018). Emotional aspects present in the lives of amputees: a literature review. Psicologia: Teoria e Prática, 20(1), 47–60. https://doi.org/10.5935/1980-6906/psicologia.v20n1p47-60
Datta, D., Saradijan, S., Thompson, A. (2008). The experience of men using an upper limb prosthesis following an amputation: Positive coping and minimizing feeling different. Disability & Rehabilitation, 30(11), 871-883. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638280701427386
Jaimie Troyal Shores, M.D. (2022). Amputation. John Hopkins Medicine. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/amputation
Katasanou, A. L., Anagnostopoulos, F., & Fragkiadaki, E. (2020). The adjustment and new identity of athletes with prosthetic limbs: A qualitative study. Archives of Hellenic Medicine, 37(4), 504–514.
Legro MW, Reiber GE, Czerniecki JM, & Sangeorzan BJ. (2001). Recreational activities of lower-limb amputees with prostheses. Journal of Rehabilitation Research & Development, 38(3), 319–325.
Mandel, A., Paul, K., Paner, R., Devlin, M., Dilkas, S., & Pauley, T. (2016). Balance confidence and activity of community-dwelling patients with transtibial amputation. Journal of Rehabilitation Research & Development, 53(5), 551–559. https://doi.org/10.1682/JRRD.2015.03.0044
Miller, C. A., Williams, J. E., Durham, K. L., Hom, S. C., & Smith, J. L. (2017). The effect of a supervised community–based exercise program on balance, balance confidence, and gait in individuals with lower limb amputation. Prosthetics and Orthotics International, 41(5), 446–454. https://doi.org/10.1177/0309364616683818
Mckechnie, P. S., & John, A. (2014). Anxiety and depression following traumatic limb amputation: A systematic review. Injury, 45(12), 1859–1866. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.injury.2014.09.015
Pedras, S., Vilhena, E., Carvalho, R., & Pereira, M. G. (2020). Quality of Life Following a Lower Limb Amputation in Diabetic Patients: A Longitudinal and Multicenter Study. Psychiatry: Interpersonal & Biological Processes, 83(1), 47–57. https://doi.org/10.1080/00332747.2019.1672438
Rekha, R., Kumari, U., & Kumar, A. (2019). Nutritional aspect of type-2 diabetes mellitus. Bulletin of Pure & Applied Sciences-Zoology, 38A(2), 126–131. https://doi.org/10.5958/2320-3188.2019.00014.7
Silva, A. das M., Furtado, G., dos Santos, I. P., da Silva, C. B., Caldas, L. R., Bernardes, K. O., & Ferraz, D. D. (2021). Functional capacity of elderly with lower-limb amputation after prosthesis rehabilitation: a longitudinal study. Disability & Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology, 16(5), 556–560. https://doi.org/10.1080/17483107.2019.1684581
Sinha, R., & Van Den Heuvel, W. J. A. (2011). A systematic literature review of quality of life in lower limb amputees. Disability & Rehabilitation, 33(11), 883–899. https://doi.org/10.3109/09638288.2010.514646
The American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc. (n.d.) Tips for living life to its fullest: Healthy gardening [Fact sheet]. https://www.aota.org/~/media/Corporate/Files/AboutOT/consumers/Adults/gardening-tip-sheet-english.pdf