Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

On average, 7,300 Canadians have a Lower Limb Amputation (LLA) each year, with 86% of those being adults aged >50 years. Extensive rehabilitation is required to assist these clients in addressing decreased confidence, mobility, depression and pain. However, in a climate of reduced health care investment (e.g., shorter lengths of stay for inpatients, move to outpatient services), self-management programs are required. Self-management programs teach people important coping skills, build their confidence, and motivate them to manage disease-related physical and psychological challenges. These programs can be provided to clients through mobile health (mHealth) technologies, which-as they are smartphone- or tablet-based-can provide accessible, low-cost, and ongoing continuous rehabilitation after discharge in both urban and rural areas. Therefore, to improve rehabilitation outcomes in adults post-LLA, we have explored clients' perspectives on education and training program post LLA to develop an online self-management program called Self-Management for Amputees Rehabilitation using Technology (SMART). We have conducted qualitative interviews with clients with a unilateral LLA aged 50 years and over to explore their needs and preferences in regard to education contents and format of delivery. Our analyses will disclose the contents of self-management program based on LLA population health needs. The results of this study will lead to the design and development of SMART, which has the potential to allow for greater clients' choice with regards to pace and style of learning to deal with health needs and prosthetic training after LLA.