VIRTUAL CONVERSATIONS: AMPUTEES AND FAMILY CAREGIVERS

目前估计美国截肢者人数超过2000人， 万在美国有超过156,000例截肢手术 每年.截肢者报告需要信息和支持 特别是在头两年。许多人找到了同伴的支持 组很有用，但此资源并不总是可用。在大多数 在某些情况下，家庭成员成为照顾者和支持者。研究 表明肢体缺失会对健康造成毁灭性的影响， 家庭照顾者，但没有系统的方法来教育 他们的新角色。为了帮助新的截肢者和他们的 护理人员，研究人员建议开发一种互动的 一种允许双方进行虚拟对话的多媒体程序 与知识渊博的同行。用户将获得理解，知识， 和支持的人失去了一个肢体或谁提供照顾， 截肢者第一阶段研究将侧重于技术可行性 和用户接受度。在第二阶段，将制定一系列措施， 适应种族/性别、文化、社会经济和年龄差异 在截肢者和照顾者中。教育的有效性 将评估方法，以及其对 对截肢者和照顾者的生活质量和健康的影响。 拟定商业应用： 互动访谈将分发给急性护理 医院，康复医院和项目，医生，HMO， 和全国各地的保险经理还将 通过国家肢体损失信息中心分发 由田纳西州诺克斯维尔的美国截肢者联盟管理。 分发渠道将包括倡导协会， 截肢者和家庭照顾者的组织。促销 活动将包括广告，会议，直接邮寄， 直接销售。

Current estimates place the American amputee population above two million. Over 156,000 amputations are performed in the United States each year. Amputees report the need for information and support particularly during the first two years. Many find peer support groups helpful, but this resource is not always available. In most cases, a family member becomes the caregiver and supporter. Research shows that limb loss can have a devastating effect on the health of the family caregiver, yet there is not systematic method to educate them about their new role. In an effort to aid new amputees and their caregivers, the researchers propose to develop an interactive multimedia program that allows both to have virtual conversations with knowledgeable peers. Users will gain understanding, knowledge, and support from people who have lost a limb or who provide care for an amputee. Phase I research will focus on technological feasibility and user acceptance. In Phase II, a series will be developed to accommodate race/gender, cultural, socioeconomic, and age differences among amputees and caregivers. The educational effectiveness of the method will be evaluated, as will its impact on communication between amputee and caregiver and on the quality of their life and health. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: The interactive interviews will be distributed to acute care hospitals, rehabilitation hospitals and programs, physicians, HMOs, and insurance case managers throughout the country. It will also be distributed through the National Limb Loss Information Center administered by the Amputee Coalition of America in Knoxville, TN. distribution channels will include advocacy associations and organizations for amputees and family caregivers. Promotional activities will include advertising, conferences, direct mailings, and direct sales.