The aim of this study was to explore the different meanings of the experience of lower-limb amputation due to vascular causes in the time period from the fifth to twelfth week post-amputation. A phenomenological study involving semi-structured interviews was carried out. Data collection took place in a Public Hospital in Spain and included a convenience sample of 20 patients who had undergone amputation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn the context of the end of life, many authors point out how the experience of identity is crucial for the well-being of patients with advanced disease. They define this identity in terms of autonomy, control, or dependence, associating these concepts with the sense of personal dignity. From the perspective of the phenomenology of embodiment, Kay Toombs and other authors have investigated the ways disease can impact on the subjective world of patients and have stressed that a consideration of this personal world can promote understanding and recognition of their experience.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Research in the end-of-life context has explored the sense of dignity experienced by patients with advanced disease, examining the factors associated with it. Whereas certain perspectives regard dignity as an intrinsic quality, independent of external factors, in the clinical setting it is generally equated with the person's sense of autonomy and control, and it appears to be related to patients' quality of life. This study aims to explore the relationship between perceived dignity, autonomy and sense of control in patients at the end of life.
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