REHABILITATION SATISFACTION IN PATIENTS WITH LOWER LIMB PROSTHESIS.

Rational: The loss of a limb is a shocking experience. Persons with a new amputation face a complex set of tasks to return to an adaptive mobility status. The type and quality of the prosthesis affect the patient's physical and mental ability of adaptation. Limb loss can be a result of vascular disease, trauma, or congenital anomalies. But in Afghanistan the main cause is ongoing conflicts and war. Factors such as appearance, frustration, and pain can all be affected by the loss of a limb. The purpose of this research study is to measure the rehabilitation satisfaction in persons with lower limb amputation in ICRC Orthopedic program at the north part of Afghanistan which covers about 7,966,576 population in 9 Northern provinces. Objective: To investigate patients? satisfaction with their lower-limb prosthesis and related service delivery at ICRC rehabilitation center in the north part of Afghanistan. Methods: A cross sectional (Observational) study was designed. A sample size of 36 patient in a period of a month searched for this study. Time Frame: The study took 16 weeks from the start to the preparation of the first draft for analysis of the findings. Results: This study of patient satisfaction with prosthesis medical devices provided an indication of patient satisfaction with Prosthetic Medical Device (PMD) in areas such as the weight, fit, durability, pain, abrasiveness, and comfort. It discovered that the weight and manageable of PMD gave the greatest patient satisfaction. Similarly, it revealed that the pain and abrasiveness of the PMD were characteristics that provided lower patient satisfaction, and therefore, are areas to improve in terms of the quality management of PMD by the health care facility. Recommendation: Psychosocial disorders are the main consequence of amputations which requires special attention and support besides the usual rehabilitation program. Employment and self-employment are other aspects of disabled peoples problem which requires special attention of the government and organizations who are working in this field. The pain and abrasiveness is the main characteristics with lower satisfaction that can be improved by special attention of the service providers.