Spirituality and Quality of Life in Limb Amputees

Abstract

In the United States, there are $1.7 million individuals living with limb loss. 1 One in 190 Americans currently live with the loss of limb and this number is estimated to double by the year 2050. 1 Data collected by the National Limb Loss Information Center (2008) reported that the rates of trauma-and cancer-related amputations have declined although the number of amputations related to vascular disease has increased. 2 Limb amputation is a life-changing event that signifies long-term physical, social, psychological, and environmental changes. 3 Adjustment to disability is not based solely on the degree of impairment, but is also impacted by psychological and psychosocial factors. 3 Psychological sequelae demonstrate an important role in determining the quality of life (QOL) and level of disability. 4 An important indicator of subjective well-being after amputation is the ability of an individual to perform daily activities and regain independence. 5 Individuals facing disability often seek to find meaning and purpose in their disability. 6 A 7-year follow-up of the Lower Extremity Assessment Project (LEAP) provided evidence that wide ranging variations in outcome following major limb trauma was more affected by the patient's economic, social, and personal resources than by initial treatment of the injury. 7 Factors that were not associated with injury or treatment but were found to be related to poorer Keywords ► quality of life ► spirituality ► well-being ► coping ► spirituality ► limb amputation AbstractLimb amputation is a life-changing event that signifies long-term physical, social, psychological, and environmental change. Spiritual well-being in patients plays a significant role in coping and may affect outcomes of patients with limb loss. The objective of this study was to describe the role of spirituality in individuals with limb amputation and to determine whether spirituality is related to the quality of life (QOL) in this sample. Study participants were recruited through prosthetists, physicians, amputee support groups, the Amputee Coalition of America, and amputee listserv discussion groups in the United States and Canada. Participants completed questionnaires containing measures of satisfaction with life, general health, mobility, and social integration. A quantitative descriptive research design was used to examine the relationships between existential spirituality (belief that one's life is meaningful or has purpose) and religious spirituality and QOL among individuals with limb amputation. A prospective study of 108 patients with a history of limb amputation was performed. The study population consisted of 66.3% males and 33.7% females. Most patients were Caucasian (96.2%). Of the 108 participants, 86 (79.6%) were 41 years of age or older with a mean of 18 years since amputation. The most frequent cause of amputation was trauma (55.6%) and the most common location of amputation was below-the-knee (49.1%). Existential spirituality, female gender, and age above 50 years related to higher QOL in ...

Satisfaction with life in individuals with a lower limb amputation: The importance of active coping and acceptance

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The Effect of Age, Gender and Socioeconomic Status on Self-esteem, Body Image and Quality of Life of Amputees: An Evaluation Seven Years after the 2008 Sichuan Earthquake

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Distortion of Body Image Following Lower Limb Amputation: Implications for Comprehensive Rehabilitation

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