Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34286125›Full record

ArticleHeliyon2021

Quality of life of patients with 3D-printed arm prostheses in a rural area of Sierra Leone.

A J Sterkenburg, M Van der Stelt, A R Koroma, M D Van Gaalen, M J Van der Pols, M P Grobusch, C H Slump, T J J Maal, L Brouwers

Open access · goldAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Heliyon, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
0.5field-weighted citation impact, top 40% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 14 citations in OpenAlex.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors at 4 institutions in 2 countries.

A J SterkenburgTechnical Medicine, University of Twente, Enschede, the Netherlands.
M Van der SteltTechnical Medicine, University of Twente, Enschede, the Netherlands.
A R KoromaMasanga Medical Research Unit (MMRU), Masanga, Tonkolili District, Sierra Leone.
M D Van GaalenTechnical Medicine, Delft University of Technology, Delft, the Netherlands.
M J Van der PolsMasanga Medical Research Unit (MMRU), Masanga, Tonkolili District, Sierra Leone.
M P GrobuschMasanga Medical Research Unit (MMRU), Masanga, Tonkolili District, Sierra Leone.
C H SlumpTechnical Medicine, University of Twente, Enschede, the Netherlands.
T J J Maal3D Lab, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
L BrouwersDepartment of Surgery, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Institute · SLUniversity of Twente · NLRadboud University Medical Center · NLDelft University of Technology · NL

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionIn Sierra Leone, access to prostheses is limited due to absence of practical knowledge, materials, trained staff, and high cost. This paper investigates the impact of a 3D printed prosthesis on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in prosthesis recipients.

methodsPatients with upper extremity amputations were included in this case study from December 2018 until July 2019. Data on the HRQoL was gathered until April 2020 in Masanga Hospital, central rural Sierra Leone. At two follow-up moments the HRQoL was assessed by applying the standard EQ-5D-5L questionnaire. These two follow-up moments varied between one week and just over a year after receiving the prosthesis. A second patient questionnaire was used to assess prosthesis satisfaction.

resultsSeven patients were included. The results of the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire show no deterioration of the HRQoL in any patient and the overall HRQoL increased by almost 20% compared to the null measurement. One patient was lost to follow up after the first re-visit. The responses to the second questionnaire indicated that patients are satisfied with the prosthesis and use it in various situations. Patients often mentioned they feel more included in society when wearing the prosthesis. One patient says wearing the prosthesis helped in accepting the amputation. As a result, enough self-confidence was experienced without the prosthesis and the patients stopped wearing the prosthesis. DISCUSSION: The overall HRQoL in patients wearing a 3D-printed prosthesis increases compared to not wearing one. Assessing the HRQoL at regular intervals is important for the long-term follow-up and to safeguard sustainability and long-term success of this project. Nevertheless, defining the HRQoL is challenging due to cultural differences and misunderstandings. Therefore, the use of alternative questionnaires to define the HRQoL should be investigated. To improve and warrant long-term success, identifying long-term problems is important, and the second questionnaire accounts for this need.

Indexed as

3D printingHealth related quality of lifeProsthesisSierra Leone

Identifiers

PMID34286125
PMCPMC8273216
OpenAlexW3176424304

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.