The trinity amputation and prosthesis experience scales and quality of life in people with lower-limb amputation

Objectives: To undertake preliminary research into quality of life (QOL) for a group of people with a lower-limb amputation and to investigate what aspects of the "prosthetic experience" are most strongly associated with QOL using the Trinity Amputation and Prosthesis Experience Scales (TAPES). Design: Cross-sectional survey. Setting: Prosthetic limb fitting center. Participants: Sixty-three people older than 18 years with unilateral lower-limb amputation. Interventions: Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures: The TAPES and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire-Brief Version. Results: There were no significant differences in any of the QOL domain scores (physical health, psychological, social relationships, environmental) arising from age, gender, level of amputation, or cause of amputation. However, there were significant differences depending on the length of time living with the prosthesis and the degree of prosthetic use. Stepwise regression identified different significant predictors for each domain of QOL. Conclusions: These findings support the claim that the TAPES can be used to evaluate QOL for this patient group. Further research is warranted to learn how sensitive the scale and its items are to change in clinical status.