The purpose of this research was to explore the association between state and trait anxiety experienced by patients who had undergone traumatic amputation and their family caregivers. The sample studied consisted of 50 hospitalized patients who had undergone traumatic amputation and 50 family caregivers. The collected data included patients’ and caregivers’ characteristics and the State Trait Anxiety Inventory scores. Fifty percent of patients and caregivers scored below 50 and 47, respectively (median), in trait anxiety. In terms of state anxiety, at least 50% of patients and caregivers scored below 56 and 50.5, respectively. These values indicate moderate to high levels of the impact of amputation on the trait and state anxiety of amputees and their caregivers. A positive linear correlation was found between the trait and state anxiety of the patients as well as between the trait and state anxiety of caregivers, as expected (ρ = 0.915, P < .001, and ρ = 0.920, P < .001, respectively). A statistically significant positive correlation was also observed between state patient anxiety and state anxiety of caregivers (ρ = 0.239 and P = .039) and between trait patient anxiety and trait anxiety of caregivers (ρ = 0.322 and P = .030). More specifically, as the patient’s anxiety score (either trait temporary) increases, the score of the caregivers’ anxiety increases and vice versa. Nurses should be aware of the association between anxiety of amputees and caregivers and, therefore, work in multidisciplinary teams to maximize clinical outcomes for patients after amputation and their families.

Introduction: Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a non-surgical invasive procedure to treat coronary artery occlusion. The quality of life (QoL) is a way to measure the impact of illness and additionally its treatments to traditional measures of clinical outcomes. Purpose: The aim of the present study was to explore the levels of QoL pre-PCI, 6 and 12 months after PCI, as well as the factors associated with the QoL pre-PCI. Methods: In the present study, 100 patients undergoing PCI were enrolled. Data were collected through the completion of the SF-36 Health Survey (SF-36), which included participants’ characteristics. The statistical significance level was p < 0.05. Results: Patients had moderate levels of QoL at baseline, with a median general health score of 45 (IQR: 30–65). A gradual statistically significant increase in scores was observed in all subcategories of the patients’ QoL at 6 and 12 months after PCI (p < 0.001). A greater increase in scores was observed in physical functioning, physical role, emotional role and social functionality. In terms of the pre-PCI phase, it was found that physical functionality was statistically significantly associated with educational level (p = 0.005), occupation (p = 0.026) and whether the patients had children (p = 0.041). The physical and emotional role was significantly associated with gender (p = 0.046 and p = 0.040) and educational level (p = 0.030 and p = 0.001). Energy–fatigue was significantly associated with gender (p = 0.001), age (p = 0.028), marital status (p = 0.001), educational level (p = 0.001), whether the patients had children (p= 0.012) and other diseases (p = 0.001). Emotional well-being was significantly associated with family history of coronary artery disease (p = 0.011) and the frequency of physical exercise (p = 0.001). Social functioning was significantly associated with gender (p = 0.033), marital status (p = 0.034) and educational level (p = 0.002). Pain was not found to be significantly associated with patients’ demographics. General health was significantly associated with gender (p = 0.003), age (p = 0.043), educational level (p = 0.001), other diseases (p = 0.005) and the frequency of physical exercise (p = 0.001). Conclusion: Information about the QoL of PCI and its determinants is important to define an effective and comprehensive care plan.

Introduction: Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a nonsurgical procedure used in the treatment of coronary heart disease.Purpose: The purpose of this study was to validate a scale created in order to assess the importance and fulfillment of information needs in patients after PCI. Methods: A 10-item scale was created by the researchers to explore the level of information needs and the level of fulfillment of these needs. The total scores have a possible range of 10 to 40 with higher scores indicating higher importance and fulfillment. The validation of the questionnaire included face and content validity, construct validity, internal consistency, repeatability, and discriminant validity.Results: Forty patients contributed to this validation. Mean and median scores for each question separately and also overall scores suggest that patients consider the need to be informed very important and that it was fulfilled to a very high degree (mean scores 39.5 and 39.3, respectively). All questions were found to be significantly correlated with the overall scores (rho > 0.3) meaning strong construct validity. Cronbach's α coefficients were high (>0.7) indicating great consistency. Both total scores had great repeatability, which suggests a high degree of reliability of the participants' responses (ICCs > 0.8). Regarding discriminant validity, a statistically significant association was observed only between marital status and the degree of fulfillment of the need to be informed (p = 0.036). More specifically, divorced or widowed patients had a lower degree of fulfillment than married patients (mean 38.6 vs. 39.6). Conclusion:It is a reliable instrument that will help clinicians who are at close contact with patients after PCI to gain a better understanding of their needs.

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