Self-care dependency assessment of person with lower limb amputation: an exploratory study

Abstract

Objective: to identify the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of the person with dysvascular major lower limb amputation and to assess their degree of dependence and autonomy in self-care activities at home. Method: quantitative, exploratory, cross-sectional and descriptive study. The convenience sample consisted of 40 participants. A sociodemographic questionnaire and the short version of the Self-Care Dependence Assessment Form were used for data collection. Results: of the 40 (100%) participants, the majority were male; 75% were over 65 years of age, 77.5% had a transfemoral amputation, and 72.5% were confined to a wheelchair. The higher levels of dependency predominated in self-care: “walking”, “bathing”, “dressing and undressing”, “using the toilet” and “transferring”. Conclusion: this study showed that the self-care domain with the highest level of dependence is “walking” self-care, and the lowest is “feeding”. Greater autonomy in using the toilet, walking and transferring from bed to chair were shown to be self-care activities with the best ability to predict patient autonomy.