Ohenewa Esther, Yendork Joana Salifu, Amponsah Benjamin, Owusu-Ansah Frances Emily
Department of Behavioural Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
Psychiatric Unit, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Kumasi, Ghana.
Health Expect. 2025 Feb;28(1):e70148. doi: 10.1111/hex.70148.
Physical and emotional loss from amputation and associated physical disability are associated with adverse physical and psychological experiences. However, little research, within the Ghanaian context, has focused on the impact of amputation on the well-being of amputees and their caregivers and the coping strategies they use to mitigate challenges experienced. Therefore, the present study explored the impact of amputation on the well-being of amputees and caregivers, and the coping strategies they employ to manage distress associated with amputation and caregiving.
The aim of this present study was explored using a qualitative descriptive design. Twenty (20) participants (comprising 10 amputees and 10 caregivers) responded to a semi-structured interview guide.
Findings show that whereas amputees experienced phantom limb sensation and loss of job, caregivers reported economic hardship and fear. Though stress was a common experience, the source of stress was different for amputees and caregivers. Regarding coping, whereas amputees used social distancing, social reference and social support to cope with their traumatic ordeal, caregivers simply coped by encouraging themselves. Both amputees and caregivers used religious coping.
Amputees and their caregivers experience varied stressors yet whereas the amputees get the needed support to deal with their predicament, caregivers lack adequate support.
The findings underscore the need for diverse support systems and psychoeducation on adaptive coping strategies for amputees and caregivers.
截肢带来的身体和情感缺失以及相关的身体残疾与不良的身体和心理体验相关。然而，在加纳的背景下，很少有研究关注截肢对截肢者及其照顾者幸福感的影响以及他们用来应对所经历挑战的应对策略。因此，本研究探讨了截肢对截肢者和照顾者幸福感的影响，以及他们为应对与截肢和照顾相关的困扰而采用的应对策略。
本研究的目的采用定性描述性设计进行探索。二十（20）名参与者（包括10名截肢者和10名照顾者）回答了一份半结构化访谈指南。
研究结果表明，截肢者经历幻肢感觉和失业，而照顾者报告经济困难和恐惧。虽然压力是一种常见的体验，但截肢者和照顾者的压力来源不同。在应对方面，截肢者通过社交距离、社会参照和社会支持来应对他们的创伤磨难，而照顾者只是通过自我鼓励来应对。截肢者和照顾者都采用宗教应对方式。
截肢者及其照顾者经历了各种压力源，然而，截肢者能得到应对困境所需的支持，而照顾者缺乏足够的支持。
研究结果强调了为截肢者和照顾者建立多样化支持系统以及开展关于适应性应对策略的心理教育的必要性。
