A qualitative exploration of the experience of using an above-knee prosthesis with a microprocessor knee
| dc.contributor.advisor | Visagie, Surona | en_ZA |
| dc.contributor.author | Strafella, Tosca | en_ZA |
| dc.contributor.other | Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Centre for Disability and Rehabilitation Studies. | en_ZA |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2021-08-13T12:38:38Z | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2021-12-22T14:13:23Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2021-08-13T12:38:38Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2021-12-22T14:13:23Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2021-12 | |
| dc.description | Thesis (MHumanRehabSt)--Stellenbosch University, 2021. | en_ZA |
| dc.description.abstract | ENGLISH SUMMARY : Background: Modern technology has allowed for many advancements in prosthetic knees. One such advancement is microprocessor-controlled knees. Quantitative research has shown functional advantages amongst users of microprocessor knees. However, the user experiences of these knees have not been widely explored. Objective: The study aimed to explore and describe the experience of using and obtaining an above-knee prosthesis with a microprocessor knee. Study design: This study was qualitative descriptive in design. Methods: Six participants who used prostheses with microprocessor knees were purposively sampled. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews using video-calls. An inductive thematic analysis led to the identification of five themes. Results: Identified themes were: A life of quality – “life-changing”; Functional ability – “the beauty is that it helps you perform properly”; Safety – “a few stumbles but every time the knee catches me”; Limitations – “sometimes the mechanics are a little bit slow”; and Obtaining a microprocessor knee. Participants felt that the microprocessor knee decreased their disability and helped to normalize them. They were more functional with the protheses and positive about the safety features of the microprocessor knee. Obtaining funding for the microprocessor knee was typically a lengthy process and raised important questions around the ethical dilemma of cost versus benefit. Conclusion: Using the MPKs have improved the lives of participants in many ways. Being more aware of these benefits may assist practitioners in offering the appropriate prescription and funding motivation for future users. The cost versus benefit conundrum around prescribing microprocessor knees must be further explored especially in low- and middle-income countries. | en_ZA |
| dc.description.abstract | AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING : Agtergrond: Moderne tegnologie het baie vooruitgang in prostetiese knieë moontlik gemaak. Die mikroprosessorbeheerde knie is ‘n voorbeeld hiervan. Kwantitatiewe navorsing het funksionele voordele onder gebruikers van mikroprosessorknieë getoon. Gebruikerservarings van hierdie knieë is egter nie wyd ondersoek nie. Doelwit: Die doel van hierdie studie was om die ervaring rakende die verkryging en gebruik van transfemorale prosteses met mikroprosessorknieë te ondersoek en te beskryf. Studie-ontwerp: ‘n Kwalitatiewe, beskrywende studie ontwerp is gevolg. Metodes: Ses deelnemers wat prostesis met mikroprosessor kniee gebruik is doelgerig gekies. Data is versamel deur middel van semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude met behulp van ‘n video-oproep. Induktiewe tematiese analise het gelei tot die identifisering van vyf temas. Bevindinge: Geïdentifiseerde temas was: 'n Lewe van kwaliteit – "Lewensveranderend"; Funksionele vermoë – "die prag is dat dit jou help om behoorlik te presteer"; Veiligheid – “die knie vang my elke keer as ek struikel", Beperkings "soms is die meganika ‘n bietjie stadig"; en die verkryging van 'n mikroprosessorknie. Deelnemers het gemeen dat die mikroprosessorknie hul gestremdheid verminder en gehelp het om hul ’n meer normale lewe te laat lei. Hulle was meer funksioneel met die prostese en positief oor die veligheidskenmerke van die knie. Die verkryging van finansiering vir die mikroprosessorknie was gewoonlik ‘n lang proses en het vrae laat ontstaan rondom die etiese dilemma van koste versus voordele. Gevolgtrekking: Die gebruik van mikroprosessorknieë het die lewens van deelnemers op baie maniere bevoordeel. As daar meer bewustheid van hierdie voordele is, mag dit praktisyns help om toepaslike voorskrif- en finansieringsmotiverings vir toekomstige gebruikers te bepaal. Die koste versus voordele konundrum rondom the voorskryf van mikroprosessor kniee moet verder ondersoek word, veral in lae en middel inkomste lande. | af_ZA |
| dc.description.version | Masters | |
| dc.format.extent | ix, 39 pages ; includes annexures | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/123637 | |
| dc.language.iso | en_ZA | en_ZA |
| dc.publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University | |
| dc.rights.holder | Stellenbosch University | |
| dc.subject | Microprocessor-controlled prosthetic knee joints | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Artificial knee | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Amputees -- Rehabilitation -- Attitudes | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Artificial legs -- Movements | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | UCTD | |
| dc.title | A qualitative exploration of the experience of using an above-knee prosthesis with a microprocessor knee | en_ZA |
| dc.type | Thesis | en_ZA |