義足を使用して社会生活を送っている女性の体験に関する症例報告

It is imperative that a concern of physical function is addressed such as ability to walk, and how the disease and the sophistication of artificial devices influence person’s quality of life（QOL）. A woman in her ５０s who has a lower limb prosthetic device after amputation. She lived with this prosthesis for more than ２０ years. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed. The findings of the study revealed that hoping for a better QOL can be lost due to unbearable suffering from adverse reactions during chemotherapy. This lived experience made her decide to discontinue chemotherapy giving her greater than expected grief experience than her postamputation. Watchful ambulation became distinctive and purposive with each step so as not to fall. This walking style was to show her normal gait, rather than worrying about the gaze from people. Furthermore, it was found that feelings of incompleteness still existed even with the prosthetic device. This was often attributed to the physical pain and discomfort while wearing this device even while knowing that she is now a whole person. Still she felt incomplete in the moment. Visible artificial device becoming her essential part, provided a meaningful life that enabled her to grow with the family.