User satisfaction and use of prostheses in ICRC’S special fund for the disabled project in Vietnam

This study investigated user satisfaction and prosthesis use in the ICRC/ SFD project in Vietnam. Clients who were satisfied with the use of their prosthesis were compared to those who were not. Similarly, those with no or light use (0-4 hours/day) were compared with those using the prosthesis more frequently. Multivariate logistic regression was done. Data on 818 clients were available for analysis. Their mean age was 52; 136 were women (16.6%). Only 54 reported to be unsatisfied (6.6%). The main factors negatively influencing user satisfaction were: prosthetic centre, occurrence of a problem, type of foot, pain and prosthesis needing replacement. Use of an outdoor walking aid, type of amputation, and use of another prosthesis, decreased use levels of the current prosthesis. Most clients were satisfied with prosthesis provided and used it around 8 hours per day. The factors influencing user satisfaction or use levels could be used to further improve the quality of the project and the prostheses.These factors explained only part of the variation in satisfaction and use levels. Therefore, it is recommended that variables like activities of daily living, social participation, psychological factors and quality of life be included in future assessments.