The stigma of digital amputation: a survey of amputees with analysis of risk factors

Carrie Roth Bettlach; Ella Gibson; John M. Daines; Emma R. Payne; Linh N. Vuong; Corinne M. Merrill; Mitchell A. Pet

doi:10.1177/17531934211044642

The stigma of digital amputation: a survey of amputees with analysis of risk factors

Carrie Roth Bettlach, Ella Gibson, John M. Daines, Emma R. Payne, Linh N. Vuong, Corinne M. Merrill, Mitchell A. Pet

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to quantify the stigma associated with digital amputation and examine factors associated with it. One hundred and sixty-four digital amputees completed the Neurological Quality of Life-Stigma questionnaire and a battery of Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System instruments. Multivariable analysis examined factors associated with stigma experience. The mean observed stigma score of 47 (SD 8, range 36–64) was similar to the mean value of the normal population. Younger age, a worker’s compensation claim and depression were each independently associated with a more severe experience of stigma after digital amputation. Socioeconomic variables, anatomical details and mechanism of injury were not independently associated with stigma. Digital amputation is not highly stigmatizing overall. Surgeons should consider referring at-risk patients to a mental health provider for support during the coping and adjustment process after amputation.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	461-468
Number of pages	8
Journal	Journal of Hand Surgery: European Volume
Volume	47
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/17531934211044642
State	Published - May 2022

Keywords

Stigma
digital amputation
hand surgery
trauma

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10.1177/17531934211044642

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title = "The stigma of digital amputation: a survey of amputees with analysis of risk factors",

abstract = "The purpose of this study was to quantify the stigma associated with digital amputation and examine factors associated with it. One hundred and sixty-four digital amputees completed the Neurological Quality of Life-Stigma questionnaire and a battery of Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System instruments. Multivariable analysis examined factors associated with stigma experience. The mean observed stigma score of 47 (SD 8, range 36–64) was similar to the mean value of the normal population. Younger age, a worker{\textquoteright}s compensation claim and depression were each independently associated with a more severe experience of stigma after digital amputation. Socioeconomic variables, anatomical details and mechanism of injury were not independently associated with stigma. Digital amputation is not highly stigmatizing overall. Surgeons should consider referring at-risk patients to a mental health provider for support during the coping and adjustment process after amputation.",

keywords = "Stigma, digital amputation, hand surgery, trauma",

author = "Bettlach, {Carrie Roth} and Ella Gibson and Daines, {John M.} and Payne, {Emma R.} and Vuong, {Linh N.} and Merrill, {Corinne M.} and Pet, {Mitchell A.}",

note = "Funding Information: The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: Dr Pet has received research funding from Checkpoint Inc. for unrelated work. Other authors have nothing to disclose. No funding was received for this article from any source. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2021.",

year = "2022",

month = may,

doi = "10.1177/17531934211044642",

language = "English",

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AU - Payne, Emma R.

AU - Vuong, Linh N.

AU - Merrill, Corinne M.

AU - Pet, Mitchell A.

N1 - Funding Information: The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: Dr Pet has received research funding from Checkpoint Inc. for unrelated work. Other authors have nothing to disclose. No funding was received for this article from any source. Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2021.

PY - 2022/5

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AB - The purpose of this study was to quantify the stigma associated with digital amputation and examine factors associated with it. One hundred and sixty-four digital amputees completed the Neurological Quality of Life-Stigma questionnaire and a battery of Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System instruments. Multivariable analysis examined factors associated with stigma experience. The mean observed stigma score of 47 (SD 8, range 36–64) was similar to the mean value of the normal population. Younger age, a worker’s compensation claim and depression were each independently associated with a more severe experience of stigma after digital amputation. Socioeconomic variables, anatomical details and mechanism of injury were not independently associated with stigma. Digital amputation is not highly stigmatizing overall. Surgeons should consider referring at-risk patients to a mental health provider for support during the coping and adjustment process after amputation.

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The stigma of digital amputation: a survey of amputees with analysis of risk factors

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