Resnik Linda, Klinger Shana, Gill Anisha, Ekerholm Biester Sarah
a Providence VA Medical Center , Providence , RI , USA.
b Ocean State Research Institute Research , Providence , RI , USA.
Disabil Rehabil Assist Technol. 2019 Feb;14(2):194-208. doi: 10.1080/17483107.2018.1467973. Epub 2018 May 9.
Although the DEKA Arm promises new abilities, it is unclear if women with upper limb amputation are willing to avail themselves of this new technology. The study purpose was to understand key factors and tradeoffs that shape women's attitudes towards the DEKA Arm.
This case series includes three women with transradial amputation. Structured surveys and semi-guided interviews were administered after completion of in-laboratory training and a home trial of the DEKA Arm. A constant comparative method with a grounded theory approach was used to generate a model describing women's decision-making related to the DEKA Arm. Quantitative data on prosthetic satisfaction was used to triangulate findings.
Factors that enhanced desirability of the DEKA Arm were improved functionality, increased abilities and the availability of someone to service the prosthesis. Factors that detracted from desirability of the device were its appearance, conspicuousness, lifestyle incompatibility, weight, need for service and difficulty of use. Each woman weighted these factors within the larger context of the capabilities of and satisfaction with her personal prostheses, her self-concept and lifestyle needs. Situational demands, particularly the desire to appear feminine and professional or need to perform certain activities, also altered the valuation of these priorities.
Findings strongly suggest that advanced upper limb prosthetic technologies, like the DEKA Arm, will be better accepted by women if appropriately gendered in appearance and designed with women's priorities in mind. Implications for Rehabilitation Women should be able to derive the functional benefits of advances in upper limb technology without needing to compromise their feminine identity and lifestyle preferences. Advanced upper limb prosthetic technologies will be better accepted by women if they are appropriately gendered.
尽管DEKA义肢带来了新的功能，但尚不清楚上肢截肢女性是否愿意使用这项新技术。本研究的目的是了解影响女性对DEKA义肢态度的关键因素和权衡因素。
本病例系列包括三名经桡骨截肢的女性。在完成实验室培训和DEKA义肢家庭试用后，进行了结构化调查和半引导式访谈。采用基于扎根理论的持续比较法，生成一个描述女性与DEKA义肢相关决策的模型。关于假肢满意度的定量数据用于验证研究结果。
提高DEKA义肢吸引力的因素包括功能改善、能力增强以及有专人提供假肢服务。降低该义肢吸引力的因素包括其外观、显眼程度、与生活方式不兼容、重量、服务需求和使用难度。每位女性在其个人假肢的功能及满意度、自我概念和生活方式需求的大背景下，对这些因素进行了权衡。情境需求，特别是展现女性气质和专业形象的愿望或进行某些活动的需求，也改变了这些优先事项的权重。
研究结果有力地表明，如果外观设计符合女性特点并考虑到女性的优先需求，像DEKA义肢这样的先进上肢假肢技术将更容易被女性接受。对康复的启示女性应能够在不损害其女性身份和生活方式偏好的情况下，获得上肢技术进步带来的功能益处。如果先进上肢假肢技术的设计符合女性特点，将更容易被女性接受。
