Influencers of participation in social roles and activities among women veterans with lower extremity amputations: an exploratory qualitative study

Women military Veterans with lower extremity amputations are a growing subpopulation of Veterans. There is a paucity of exploration into factors influencing participation in meaningful social roles and activities within this population. Thus, the purpose of this qualitative study was to evaluate influencers of participation among women Veterans with lower limb amputations. Women Veterans participated in semi-structured internet-based video focus groups led by a clinician researcher. Participants were encouraged to describe their experiences around participating in meaningful social roles and activities, with specific consideration of known influencers of participation. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Eleven women Veterans with lower extremity amputations participated across three focus groups conducted between August 1 and September 30, 2021. Participants described many factors influencing their participation, including heat and sweat, body image, and footwear. To the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to qualitatively evaluate the experiences of women Veterans with limb loss in regard to their perceptions around participation. The results of this study echo the findings of other quantitative and qualitative studies including women Veterans, with a new lens on the construct of participation. Factors influencing participation in important roles and activities are underexplored among women Veterans with lower extremity amputations.Women Veterans with lower extremity amputations describe many factors that influence their participation, such as heat and sweat, body image, and footwear.Rehabilitation professionals providing care to women Veterans with lower extremity amputations should prioritize optimizing participation when selecting interventions and prosthetic components.Women Veterans with lower extremity amputations desire care that incorporates their gender-identity into decision-making; rehabilitation care teams should become educated about and engage in gender-aware healthcare practices. Factors influencing participation in important roles and activities are underexplored among women Veterans with lower extremity amputations. Women Veterans with lower extremity amputations describe many factors that influence their participation, such as heat and sweat, body image, and footwear. Rehabilitation professionals providing care to women Veterans with lower extremity amputations should prioritize optimizing participation when selecting interventions and prosthetic components. Women Veterans with lower extremity amputations desire care that incorporates their gender-identity into decision-making; rehabilitation care teams should become educated about and engage in gender-aware healthcare practices.