Assessment of Quality of Life in Lower Limb Amputees Using Short-Form 36

Son, Suk; Pyun, Sung Bom; Kim, Sin Do

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To assess overall quality of life (QOL) in lower limb amputees and identify the factors affecting their quality of life. METHOD: This study was designed as an interview survey using the questionnaire. The subjects were 78 lower limb amputees (male 76, female 2) and the age matched 39 healthy adult males consisted control group. Interview questionnaire included level of education, religion, marital status, occupation and income. Depression was measured by the Beck depression inventory (BDI). The QOL was measured by the MOS 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36). The SF-36 scores of amputee group were compared with that of control group, and were compared according to the various factors.
RESULTS
The mean overall scores of QOL in amputee and control group were 50.2+/- 21.7, 73.6+/- 12.7 respectively (p<0.05). The mean scores were significantly reduced in amputee group as compared with the control group in entire dimension (p<0.05). Depression and numbers of combined diseases had a negative effect on multiple areas of QOL (p<0.05), however, occupation, income, amputation level, and time after amputation had no significant effect (p>0.05).
CONCLUSION
The QOL assessed by SF-36 indicated relatively low functional and well-being status in amputees. Depression and combined diseases would be a most important factors on QOL.