Abstract
Purpose: How patients make decisions about their future treatment has been sparsely study and with respect to limb amputation, a particularly difficult decision, not at all. The purpose of the study is to reach as deep understanding as possible of how from the patients' point of view they reach the decision to consent to the amputation of a lower limb. Methods: The research was conducted in the qualitative method. Thirty lower-limb amputees (aged 32-88) took part in the study. In-depth interviews were held with the participants. The data were processed by means of content analysis. Results: The main thematic categories identified were, in the chronological order of their appearance: 'The trail of torment leading to the decision to amputate', 'The turning point - taking the decision' "I just couldn't take any more pain" "We opt for life, we don't want to die". The more protracted and pain-filled the 'the trail of torment' the more mentally prepared patients were to give consent to amputation. Asked to look back on their choice, almost all interviewees had no regrets and even found virtues in it. Conclusion: The patients' decisions represented a mix of their grasp of the medical information supplied them by their doctors, their own personal values - opting for life prevailing over the desire for a whole body, and consideration for their family. The patients saw the decision-making process about amputation as a process of achieving consensus between themselves, their doctors and their family.
Sigma Membership
Non-member
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
N/A
Research Approach
N/A
Keywords:
amputation, decision-making, patients point of view
Recommended Citation
Tzevlin, Valeria; Malul, Einat; and Rassin, Michal, "Decision-Making on Limb Amputation: The Patient's Point of View" (2012). INRC (Congress). 93.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2012/presentations_2012/93
Conference Name
23rd International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Brisbane, Australia
Conference Year
2012
Rights Holder
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Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Decision-Making on Limb Amputation: The Patient's Point of View
Brisbane, Australia
Purpose: How patients make decisions about their future treatment has been sparsely study and with respect to limb amputation, a particularly difficult decision, not at all. The purpose of the study is to reach as deep understanding as possible of how from the patients' point of view they reach the decision to consent to the amputation of a lower limb. Methods: The research was conducted in the qualitative method. Thirty lower-limb amputees (aged 32-88) took part in the study. In-depth interviews were held with the participants. The data were processed by means of content analysis. Results: The main thematic categories identified were, in the chronological order of their appearance: 'The trail of torment leading to the decision to amputate', 'The turning point - taking the decision' "I just couldn't take any more pain" "We opt for life, we don't want to die". The more protracted and pain-filled the 'the trail of torment' the more mentally prepared patients were to give consent to amputation. Asked to look back on their choice, almost all interviewees had no regrets and even found virtues in it. Conclusion: The patients' decisions represented a mix of their grasp of the medical information supplied them by their doctors, their own personal values - opting for life prevailing over the desire for a whole body, and consideration for their family. The patients saw the decision-making process about amputation as a process of achieving consensus between themselves, their doctors and their family.