FAMILY RELATIONS, QUALITY OF LIFE AND POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS AMONG AMPUTEES AND PROSTHETICS

Amputees And Prosthetics

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the present study was to assess nature of family relations, quality of life and post-traumatic
stress among amputees and prosthetics.
Study Design: Cross-sectional study.
Place and Duration of Study: Artificial Limb Centers and hospitals of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Duration of the
study was from Jan 2015 to Sep 2015.
Material and Methods: The study was conducted on 160 trauma patients (N=160, n=80 amputees, n=80
prosthetics) from different hospitals of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Non probability purposive sampling
technique was used to collect data. Three questionnaires were administered to assess the family relations (IFR),
Quality of life (WHO Quality of life scale -BREF) and Post-traumatic Stress (Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Checklist, PCL).
Results: The results of the study indicated that quality of life and family relations were negatively associated with
Post-traumatic stress(r=-66** r=-20**) respectively for amputees and also negatively correlated for prosthetics
(r=62** r=-31**) respectively. There were significant positive relationship between family relations and quality of
life for amputees and prosthetics (r=11** r=21**) respectively. Hierarchical regression analysis showed that
Posttraumatic stress is a significant negative predictor of quality of life. There were significant differences
between amputees and prosthetics on family relations, quality of life and post-traumatic stress.
Conclusion: Present study demonstrated high prevalence of post-traumatic stress, low quality of life and less
positive family relations in amputees than prosthetics, who had less PTSD, positive family relations and high
quality of life. This high level of post-traumatic stress leads to low quality of life among amputees. The study
would be helpful for rehabilitation professionals to make plan regarding therapeutic interventions to reduce post
traumatic stress and increase their quality of life.