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INTRODUCTION
People with a limb absent from birth or through trauma or disease are subject to significant
challenges as a result, independent of the direct consequences of the original source of their
absent limb. Amongst these are phantom pains and other phantom phenomena (Katz &
Melzack 1990), as well as poorer quality of life and other psychosocial indicators (Demet et al
2003).
Use of prostheses where a limb is absent or lost is an aspect of development or rehabilitation of
physical function. However, surprisingly, little is known about patterns of prosthetic use (Murray
& Fox 2002) or psychological adaptation to the loss or absence of a limb, as research is
generally limited to anecdotal reports and small surveys (Rybarczyk et al 1995). In particular,
there is little examination of the attitudes of the person using the prosthesis or their experiences
of prosthesis use, focusing instead on functional characteristics of the prosthesis and their
putative effects on use (e.g. Millstein et al 1986, Balance et al 1989).
A recent study (Saradjian et al 2007) used interviews to focus on the experiences of 11 male
amputees, and found that participants reported adjustment to reduce their sense of difference
using a positive coping style. However, there is some suggestion from the results that the
experiences of men and women of limb absence and prosthesis use may be different.
Accordingly, the current study aimed to complement the work of Saradjian et al by interviewing
women with experience of limb absence and prosthetic use.
METHOD
79 women with prostheses were approached from the cohort of respondents to the ARC survey
who had agreed to be contacted with regard to further participation. A group of 15 respondents
was initially sought. Ethics approval was sought and granted from the original NRES panel as a
substantial amendment to the original study protocol.
Interviews were conducted using a brief semi-structured interview schedule devised by the
investigators and broadly following the issues covered in Saradjian et al (2007).
Respondents were approached via the post and consent to participate was sought. Participants
were interviewed at a venue of their choice, consent was sought for audiotaping, and the
interviews were taped and transcribed. Data were analysed using thematic analysis and
following the pragmatic approach of Burnard (1991) to organisation of the data.
RESULTS
Six women agreed to participate in the study. Their ages ranged from 29 to 67 years. Four had
lower limb prostheses and two had upper limb prostheses.
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