Short summary of project:
The aim of this study is to investigate the factors which affect rehabilitation outcome following lower
extremity amputation (LEA) in people with diabetes and to use this information to propose a disease
specific rehabilitation model to improve outcomes for this patient group.
The study will be undertaken in three work programmes (WP). In WP1 all patients in the Glasgow
area who undergo a LEA in one year will be followed up prospectively for 18 months. Preoperative
data on the factors associated with the LEA will be recorded. Those with diabetes and those without
diabetes will be compared and statistical analysis performed to investigate the causal relationships
between predefined LEA factors and functional outcome. WP2 will involve interviewing people with
diabetes who have had a LEA. The interviews will consider the patient’s views on the barriers to limb
fitting and obstacles faced during rehabilitation. WP3 will be a survey of physiotherapists who
specialise in amputee rehabilitation to ascertain their views on what influences the decision making
processes in terms of limb fitting and rehabilitation.
Funder:
Sir George Alberti Fellowship
Diabetes UK
Supervisor(s):
Dr Lorna Paul, Reader in rehabilitation, University of Glasgow
Dr Brian Kennon, Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer (School of Medicine)
Professor Sally Wyke, Deputy Director, Institute of Health and Wellbeing / Interdisciplinary Research
Professor (School of Social and Political Sciences Administration),Deputy Director of Institute of
Health and Wellbeing (Institute of Health and Wellbeing),Professor (Institute of Health and
Wellbeing Social Sciences)
Contact Details:
PhD Student
Nursing & Health Care, MVLS, 61 Oakfield Avenue, Glasgow G12 8LL
f.smith.3@research.gla.ac.uk
Tel 0141 330 7154