Study to Assess the Effectiveness of Health Education on Knowledge Regarding Phantom Sensation and Its Management Among Patients Undergoing Amputation

Abstract

Background: pain is subjective in nature, the accuracy of the level of pain remains subjective; however, the objectivity is learnt by visual analog scale, yet the score and level of pain remains subjective in nature. Various types of pain are identified; among which, phantom pain is a pain felt like from the part that no longer is present due to amputation or traumatic injury. The phantom pain is perceived due to impulses from brain and spinal cord. Phantom pain is painful and common after amputation or traumatic injury. Hence the present study aims to educate the patients undergoing amputation and sensitize about phantom pain, its occurrence and self-management of sensation by assessing knowledge and educating about phantom pain. Methodology: one group pretest posttest design was selected, using purposive sampling technique, a total of 45 patients undergoing amputation due to various etiology (Diabetic, traumatic, elective, emergency) were selected from orthopedic units. A pretest was performed to assess the knowledge of phantom sensation and its management using structured questionnaire, following that an education program was conducted and posttest was conducted using same structured questionnaire. The effectiveness of the study was assessed by verbal communication by post-surgery patients about the phantom sensation and the means of their management and coping. The structured questionnaire had content validity index of 85% and reliability of 0.89. The collected scores were analyzed for statistical analysis in SPSS version 18.0 and results were interpreted. Results: the findings of the study revealed that the knowledge of the patients on phantom sensation and its management was poor and they had less understanding of pain and its coping; majority of the patients were anxious about surgery and its outcome. Post health educational program, the coping, management of phantom sensation was good in comparison to pretest scores and the results were supported by better managing of patients regarding phantom sensation. Conclusion: the present study designed to health educate the patients undergoing the amputation for the various causes, regarding the phantom sensation and its management. The study found that the health education was effective in bringing the desired change in perseverance of phantom sensation and coping it in better manner. Study like this should be carried out to large group of patients undergoing amputation surgery to combat the phantom sensation and to cope with the emotions and bring health perception.