Psychological correrates of Traumatic expences and coping strategies of post amputation patients.A case study of Mulago specialized national hospital, Kampala- Uganda.

Abstract

ABSTRACT The study assessed the effect of psychological correlates of traumatic experiences on coping strategies of post amputation basing on evidence from Mulago specialized national hospital, Kampala-Uganda. It specifically analyzed the personality styles that enhance coping among amputees, assessed the psychological consequences among amputees and examined the psychological interventions among amputees. The study was a hospital based prospective post treatment employing a cross sectional design utilizing a quantitative research approach by administering questionnaires to 72 patients who were admitted for amputations and attending weekly amputee clinics and those using prostheses and orthosises. The data was processed both at descriptive and inferential level using SPSS version 20.0. The study found extraversion as a statistically positive correlate with the confrontational form of coping style (r = 0.279, p = 0.031 < 0.05). It found a significantly positive correlate that enhanced painful problem solving(r =0.278, p =0.032< 0.05) and positive reappraisal (r = 0.301, p = 0.019 < 0.05) compared to conscientiousness as a negative correlate of coping styles particularly self-control (r =-0.326, p = 0.011< 0.05) and escape avoidance (r =-0.263, p =0.043 < 0.05). Results showed abnormal depression (46.7%), suffering abnormal anxiety (45.0%) alongside demonstrating symptoms of at least 2 Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders (46.7%) as the psychological consequences. The psychological interventions study found included specialized physician services (60.0%), primary care provision (45.0%) and financial assistance (46.7 among others The study concluded that personality styles such as extraversion, agreeableness and conscientiousness are crucial in enhancing coping styles among amputees and therefore need to be well established and aligned supporting initiatives. It was thus recommended among others that the management of psychological consequences in relation to the health care providers’ services, there is need to develop and implement assessments that comprehensively appraises the various personality styles demonstrated by the patients as to inform care alignment. It was also recommended that health care providers in collaboration with the caregivers need to institute mechanisms which help the amputees learn the approaches to embracing positive thinking about their present situations as minimize the negative psychological consequences