Open AccessLevels of Fear in Patients Scheduled for Amputation at The Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Ghana
Author(s) -
Reginald Arthur-Mensah,
Sabina Coffie,
Lincoln Tetteh-Ahinakwa,
Abigail Agartha Kyei
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
international journal of psychological studies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1918-722X
pISSN - 1918-7211
DOI - 10.5539/ijps.v13n1p48
Subject(s) - amputation , sadness , rehabilitation , teaching hospital , multidisciplinary approach , medicine , psychology , physical therapy , general surgery , psychiatry , social science , anger , sociology
The purpose of this study was to identify the prevalence and levels of fear in patients scheduled for amputations at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH), Accra, Ghana. A total of 30 patients hospitalized at the surgical wards and the orthopaedic and accident center wards between November 2019 and May 2020 were included in the study. The Surgical Fear Questionnaire (SFQ) was used to measure the levels of fear in the patients the day before surgery.
Findings showed that the major type of amputation was below knee amputation, 16/30 (53.3%), the main reason for amputation was due to Diabetic foot wounds, 16/30 (53.3%), the immediate reaction to the news of the amputation was sadness, 12/30 (40%). All patients were afraid. Mean (SD) SFQ-s scores were 16.23 (9.22) and mean (SD) SFQ-l scores were 19.40 (9.65). Though the levels of fear were generally low, long term fear was higher among the patients than the short-term fear consequences of the surgery. Gender was significant associated with patients’ immediate reaction to fear. Age was significantly associated with the levels of fear.
We propose multidisciplinary interactions and well-thought-out rehabilitation programs to enhance patient outcomes and improve the quality of life of amputees.