Feeding Using Assistive Technology in the Improvement of Occupational Performance of Leprosy Patients With Claw Hand

Abstract

Leprosy is a slow course, chronic, granulomatous infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae. The disease causes lesions on face, hands and feet, which can generate severe physical disabilities that contribute to the installation of deformities and disabling patterns. The claw hand type lesion is a sequel observed in patients with upper limbs lesions. It can be very disabling, making it difficult to the individuals to carry out their Daily Living Activities which impairs their quality of life and personal satisfaction. The occupational therapy intervention using low cost assistive technology to aid in daily living activities of patients with claw hand aims at minimizing motor and manual dexterity deficits. Thus, this study aims to demonstrate the self perception of patients about improving their feeding performance activity after use of functional adaptation. We conducted the Canadian Model of Occupational Performance protocol before and after 10 training interventions with adaptation to feeding activity to evaluate the perception of 20 patients on the Performance and Satisfaction with the performance of Daily Living Activities. It was observed that the variables showed improved indices with increase in the independence levels. The material proposed and used in this study showed to be adequate to the confection of the adaptations that were developed, which promoted reduction of costs. The adaptations developed in this study showed favorable results with statistical significance, obtained through analysis of the final data.