Table 1:
Overview of studies reporting QoL data.
| Authors | Evaluation tools | Study protocol | Characteristics of patients | Aim of study | Results | Critical review form-total items |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harness et al. (2001)2 | PEQ | Follow up | 60 dysvascular TTA (mean age 65.9 ± 1.4 years) with successful use of current prosthesis for a minimum of 6 months | Determining QoL of a population of TTA who were successful prosthetic users | The response to the PEQ domains of perceived responses, frustration, social burden, overall well-being and overall satisfaction were above 65% of the midline of the PEQ scores. The domains “ambulation” and “transfer” showed less favorable responses. Statistical study of the relationships between domains showed these correlations: a. “residual limb health” and “prosthetic appearance” with “social burden” “satisfaction” b. less “pain” with “satisfaction”. c. “ability to ambulate” with “satisfaction” d. “transfer ability” with “satisfaction” and with decreased “social burden” e. “pain” and “residual limb health” with “ability to ambulate” f. “social burden” with “ambulation” |
10/12* |
| Norvell et al.(2011)25 | SWLS | Prospective cohort study | 87 LLA (8 TFA, 52 TTA, and 27 Transmetatarsal amputees). TTA mean age was 61.5±9.1 years. Only 43 individuals reached 12-month follow-up | Examining the association of “mobility success” with satisfaction with mobility and satisfaction with life; comparing rates of mobility success between various amputation levels; evaluating factors associated with mobility success | This study did not find a significant difference in mobility results between TFA and TTA. This could depend on the very small number of TFA. 50% of TTA were satisfied with their mobility. No differences were found between TTA and transmetatarsal amputees in terms of mobility satisfaction. The satisfaction with life was 28% higher in amputees with higher mobility score. There is also a correlation between higher mobility score and satisfaction with mobility | 14/15 |
| Cox et al. (2011)26 | WHO QOL-BREF | Observational study | 87 LLA (64 TTA, 23 TFA) Mean age: 62±9.9 years. 35 males and 52 females. All TTA males were > 60 years. 78% of TTA females were >60 years | Determining the QoL of diabetic LLA and the relationship with gender, age and amputation level | TTA showed a better QoL. Females were found to have higher scores in the QoL domains (physical health, physiological, social relationship and environment) than males, even if 40% had a transfemoral amputation. This might depend on the younger age of the females. Females across the age groups had a significantly higher QoL average scores than males | 14/15 |
| Quigley et al.(2016)27 | TAPES-R and modified version of SF-36 (v2)33 | Cross-sectional study | 33 LLA (23 TTA (mean age 68±10 years), 10 partial foot amputees (63 ± 10 years) | Comparing QoL in people with partial foot amputation secondary to peripheral vascular disease and determining factors influencing QoL | The statistic analysis showed no significant differences in the SF-36v2 between TTA and partial foot amputation. Age was the only variable, which concurred significantly with QoL, while level of amputation did not | 14/15 |
Abbreviations: LLA, lower limb amputees; TTA, transtibial amputees; TFA, transfemoral amputees; WHO QOL-BREF, World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale; QoL, quality of life;; PEQ, Prosthesis Evaluation Questionnaire; SF-36, Short-Form General Health Survey; SWLS, Satisfaction with Life Scale; TAPES-R, Trinity Amputation and Prosthesis Experience Scale-Revised.
* Some questions had the option “unable to determine”. These questions were excluded from the checklist and this was the reason why some of selected studies might have a maximum score of less than 15.