Promoting the health of amputees: an educational action called talking with the bedridden patient

• Main Authors: Ruy Luiz Lorenzetti Branco, Kadine Priscila Bender dos Santos, Soraia Cristina Tonon da Luz
• Format: Article
• Language: Portuguese
• Published: Universidade Federal de São Carlos 2017-09-01
• Series: Cadernos Brasileiros de Terapia Ocupacional
• Subjects: Amputation; Postoperative Care; Physical Therapy Department; Health Education.
• Online Access: http://www.cadernosdeterapiaocupacional.ufscar.br/index.php/cadernos/article/view/1705/890

Objective: The aim of the present study was to report the educational activity called ‘Talking with the Bedridden Patient’ based on five themes: Rehabilitation; Empowerment; Amputation; Uncertainties and Guidance. This research was conducted as part of the outreach project Multidisciplinary Rehabilitation of Amputees of the State University of Santa Catarina. The actions of the project at hospital level included: collection of notifications; conversation with bedridden patients; delivery of a kit with informative brochures and an elastic band for the bandaging of the stump; schedule for physical therapy assessment after hospital discharge in the outreach project. Method: This qualitative case study was performed with a person who had recently undergone a lower limb amputation in a public hospital in the city of São José/Santa Catarina. Results: This project proved to be efficient mainly to empower the patient for early onset of rehabilitation. Conclusion: We call attention to the importance of training hospital multidisciplinary teams involved in providing guidelines on fitting, return to work and clarification of general doubts taking into account the patient’s wishes and family support.