Improving Activity and Participation After Limb Loss: PALS-Plus
Information
01/01/2006 - 10/01/2010
Status:
Active
Limb loss can result from a variety of etiologies including diabetes, trauma and cancer. Following limb loss, individuals are at elevated risk for activity limitations and participation restrictions with significant impact on health and quality of life. The goals of this project were to evaluate the effectiveness of an enhanced, early self-management program (PALS Plus) in improving health and outcomes following limb loss. The specific aims are (1) to evaluate the effectiveness of the PALS Plus intervention in improving outcomes for persons with limb loss and (2) to evaluate the effectiveness of the PALS Plus intervention in maximizing utilization of self-management interventions for persons with limb loss. Improvements in primary and secondary outcomes will result through the impact on self efficacy, patient activation, catastrophizing and social support. The investigation will also provide unique and valuable information regarding patients'''''''' acceptance and use of peer visitation and self-management following limb loss. By establishing the utility and effectiveness of the enhanced self-management intervention, there is the potential to improve the health, activity, participation and quality of life for individuals with disabilities. The intervention addresses the areas of activity and participation in such a way that it can be implemented in local health care facilities working in combination with a national consumer based organization – the Amputee Coalition of America.
“Being so close to Maryland, I knew Johns Hopkins was a great hospital but I never knew it had the same caliber of researchers until we started to work with the team from the Injury Center,” said Steve Austin, past-president of the Delaware Volunteer Fire Association (DVFA).
