Health services utilization in adult acquired major upper-limb amputees: a population-based survey.

OBJECTIVE To increase knowledge of health services utilization and related factors in adult acquired major upper-limb amputees. DESIGN Population-based cross-sectional study conducted in Norway. SUBJECTS Two hundred and twenty four adult acquired major upper-limb amputees (57.4% response rate). Mean age was 53.7 years, 83.5% were men and mean post-amputation time was 24.0 years. METHODS Data were collected by postal questionnaires. Amputation-related health services utilization, perceived benefit and unmet needs were reported and associations between these factors and background factors were estimated by multivariate logistic regression analyses. RESULTS Reported health services utilization was relatively low. The reported benefit of utilized services was generally high. For several non-utilized services, considerable unmet needs for utilization were reported. Several background factors were significantly associated with different aspects of the services examined. A considerable discrepancy between reported pain and utilization of specified pain treatments was noted. CONCLUSION The findings of this study suggest that several health services available to acquired major upper-limb amputees should be strengthened. Establishing routines to ensure access to optimal, individualized rehabilitation may prevent disability. We recommend additional, longitudinal studies to further assess the need for mental health care and pain treatment in acquired major upper-limb amputees.