"Both My Body and My Spirit are Incomplete": Care Needs and Difficulties Experienced by Patients with Amputation

Introduction: It is frequently performed for reasons such as amputation, circulatory system problems, accidents, cancers, infections and surgical interventions due to congenital anomalies, and it affects individuals psychosocially. This research was conducted to better understand individuals' amputation experiences and care needs. Methods: Descriptive phenomenological type research, one of the qualitative research designs, was conducted with 13 participants between November 2023 and January 2024. Results: 10 of the participants are male, 9 are married, 11 do not use prosthesis, and the average age is 54.4. Six themes were obtained in the thematic analysis: "Physical effects", "Socioeconomic effects", "Adaptation and coping", "Emotional effects", Amputation perception" and "Prosthesis Perception". Most of the participants are dependent in their daily living activities. Post-amputation body image impact, emotional difficulties such as loss and helplessness, and feelings of social isolation and dependency have affected many people. Participants frequently emphasized the importance of support systems such as family and healthcare professionals. In particular, receiving support from family members played an important role in the adaptation process of individuals after amputation. Almost all of the participants perceived amputation negatively. However, it was noted that participants using prosthesis used more positive expressions. Many of the participants talked about their desire to use a prosthesis and their hope that the prosthesis would have a positive impact on their lives. Conclusion: Amputation is an important surgery performed due to acute or chronic health problems and affects individuals biopsychosocially. Perioperative preparation and care processes and support systems have a great impact on individuals' ability to adapt to living with an amputated limb. The application of prostheses that make life easier for individuals, gaining new skills and the rehabilitation process are other factors that will facilitate adaptation.