Article

BACKGROUND: Prostheses are used to varying degrees; however, little is known
about how environmental aspects influence this use. OBJECTIVES: To describe
users' experiences of how environmental factors influence their use of a
myoelectric arm prosthesis. STUDY DESIGN: Qualitative and descriptive. METHODS: A
total of 13 patients previously provided with a myoelectric prosthetic hand
participated. Their age, sex, deficiency level, etiology, current prosthesis use,
and experience varied. Semi-structured interviews were audiotaped, transcribed,
and analyzed through inductive content analysis. RESULTS: Four categories were
created from the data: "Prosthesis function," "Other people's attitudes,"
"Support from family and healthcare," and "Individual's attitude and strategies."
The overarching theme, "Various degrees of embodiment lead to different
experiences of environmental barriers and facilitators," emerged from differences
in individual responses depending on whether the individual was a daily or a
non-daily prosthesis user. Environmental facilitators such as support from family
and healthcare and good function and fit of the prosthesis seemed to help the
embodiment of the prosthesis, leading to daily use. This embodiment seemed to
reduce the influence of environmental barriers, for example, climate, attitudes,
and technical shortcomings. CONCLUSION: Embodiment of prostheses seems to reduce
the impact of environmental barriers. Support and training may facilitate the
embodiment of myoelectric prosthesis use. Clinical relevance For successful
prosthetic rehabilitation, environmental factors such as support and information
to the patient and their social network about the benefits of prosthesis use are
important. Local access to training in myoelectric control gives more people the
opportunity to adapt to prosthesis use and experience less environmental
barriers.

Langue : ANGLAIS