Investigation of Body Image and Quality of Life of Patients with Lower Limb Amputation: Problems Experienced of Patients

Background: Problems related to quality of life and body images of amputee patients are important.Aims: This study was performed to assess body image and quality of life with problems experienced of patients with lower limb amputation.Materials and methods: This study was performed using mixed quantitative dominant study design. The study was carried out in orthopedics and cardiovascular surgery units of a university hospital. Quantitative data were collected from 30 patients via questionnaires including the Short Form-36 Quality of Life (SF-36 QoL) and Amputee Body Image Scale (ABIS) tools. Qualitative data were gathered from 20 patients using an interview form. In this research, quantitative data have been analyzed by using a statistical program and qualitative data have been analyzed by using content analysis.Results: Age mean of 30 patients with amputation 47.23 +/- 16.08. They were 80 % male, 70% have a chronic illness, 63.3% knee disarticulation or transfemoral amputation, and 53.3% use prosthetic. The average SF-36 QoL sub-dimension scores of the patients were: physical 30.11 +/- 20.00, social 36.66 +/- 27.45, physical roles 18.33 +/- 30.03, emotional roles 37.77 +/- 22.71, mental health 48.0 +/- 22.89, vitality 36.50 +/- 20.64, pain 48.13 +/- 28.33, and general health 43.96 +/- 28.59. The ABIS average score was 60.1 +/- 19.62. The most common problem of patients after amputation involves issues related to motion. Three main categories of patients experience with amputation were designated that the reactions after learning that the amputation will be done, problems experienced in the early period after amputation and post-discharge problems.Conclusions: Quality of life of patients with amputation was below the intermediate level. Deterioration in body image perception was above average. The most common problem after amputation was issues related mobilization. Training related the amputation process and social support might significantly reduce problems with amputation.