Self-efficacy refers to a personal judgment about being able to succeed in reaching a desired outcome. Prosthetic rehabilitation is primarily focused on physical improvement rather than psychological interventions. Toward this end, a team of researchers in Sweden investigated the relationship between self-efficacy and prosthetic-specific outcomes including use, mobility, amputation-related issues, and global health. A second purpose was to examine if the type of prosthetic knee used affected these outcomes. The researchers found that perceived self-efficacy is related to quality of life, prosthetic mobility and capability, as well as social activities in daily life. Further, no significant difference was observed between individuals using microprocessor-controlled knees (MPKs) versus non-MPKs. The study was published April 1 in the journal Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology.
The cross-sectional study cohort included 42 people, 23 of whom used a non-MPK and 19 who used an MPK. The cohort completed the General Self-Efficacy (GSE) Scale and the Questionnaire for Persons with a Transfemoral Amputation (Q-TFA). The study sample had high GSE scores of 32/40. GSE scores were significantly correlated to the Q-TFA prosthetic use, mobility, and problem scores. High GSE scores were related to higher levels of prosthetic use, mobility, and global scores and negatively related to problem scores. No significant difference was observed between individuals using non-MPK versus MPK joints.
The study authors indicated that more attention should be directed toward the relationship between self-efficacy and prosthetic-related outcomes during prosthetic rehabilitation after a lower-limb amputation.