A survey of prosthetic preferences in the UK and Greece

People with limb loss are considered as disabled and they are stigmatised. However, the use of prostheses that express their identity has potential to change society’s opinion and eliminate stigmatisation. Using an online questionnaire, the aim of the study was to understand users’ preferences towards prostheses and whether culture affects them with the aim of designing more suitable prostheses for them. In order to investigate people’s preferences, with respect to cultural diversity, the study was conducted in the UK and Greece. There were 136 valid answers. The sample methods of the research are non-probability. Through the demographic and disability related variables that were tested, age and cause of limb loss appear to be independent of culture. The results present similarities between the two countries regarding the hierarchy of the preferences. However, the reasons for participants’ preferences towards prosthetic limbs significantly differ; in the UK people are concerned about identity, whilst in Greece the concern is for social reasons. Functional concerns constitute the most important issues to both countries.