Lower limb amputation (LLA) is a life-altering event that impacts 7,300 Canadians each year. Patients may experience a lack of confidence, fear of falling, depression and pain, impacting daily tasks and social engagement. To address the challenging nature of LLA, patients undergo extensive rehabilitation programs.
The Self-Management for Amputee Rehabilitation using Technology (SMART) program is a peer-supported virtual health approach that aims to enhance the work of rehabilitation professionals working with individuals following LLA.
Refer your patients to SMART
SMART is currently recruiting patients for this study. If you have a patient or client that might benefit from this program, please feel free to share the information below.
How will SMART benefit my patients or clients?
- Gain the support and mentorship of a peer trainer who has gone through similar experiences
- Participate in 6-weeks of self-paced, online training modules
- Provided additional tools and knowledge for greater confidence, self-management skills, and walking capacity
- Added resources on top of rehabilitation from a physiotherapist, occupational therapists, or prosthetist to help them reach their goals and independence
- Patients will be offered an honorarium for participation
- This is a randomized-control trial. Patients / clients will be divided into one of two groups.
- The control group will also receive educational resources that are currently being used in rehabilitation settings. Participants in this group will not be exposed to SMART or Peer Trainers.
Who can participate in SMART?
- Patients aged 50 or older
- Have a unilateral lower limb amputation
- Completed the initial casting of prosthesis within the last 5 years
- Patients with access to a computer or tablet and the internet
Participants will not be able to participate if they:
- Have substantial health conditions (e.g. congestive heart failure)
- Anticipate further surgery (e.g. LLA revision) as identified by our study site’s physiatrists
- Have an inability to use a tablet (e.g. using hands for typing)
What participants can expect:
- This is a randomized-control trial. Participants will be divided into one of two groups.
- TRIAL GROUP
- Participate in 6-weeks of online self-management modules (less than 3 hours/week) from the comfort of home
- Weekly online meetings with a peer trainer
- 3 virtual sessions with the research team
- CONTROL GROUP
- Participate in 6-weeks of paper-based educational resources
- 3 virtual sessions with the research team
Clinician Information
How can I refer a patient?
- Send your patient our contact details below and a member of our team will respond to their inquiry to participate.
- Send us your patient’s details (with their permission), and a member of our team will connect with them.
What material can I share with a potential participant or in my clinic?
- Please feel free to direct your patient to this SMART Participant Information Page which includes an information video and what a participant can expect.
- SMART Recruitment Poster can be found here.
Am I able to see the SMART online modules before referring my patient?
- Absolutely. Please send our team an email and we would be happy to give you more insight into our research / online modules.
Thank you for your support with referring patients to our study. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to a member of the SMART team for more information.
Contact Us
Team:
- Ethan Simpson | Research Coordinator
- Aditya Dhariwal | Recruitment Lead
Email: smart.study@ubc.ca
Phone: 604-734-1313 ext. 6292
