"Five minutes can make a difference”: a narrative analysis exploring amputees’ experiences of support and community reintegration post limb loss

Pabbineedi, Uma (2015) "Five minutes can make a difference”: a narrative analysis exploring amputees’ experiences of support and community reintegration post limb loss. Manchester Metropolitan University. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

More than one billion people in the world live with some form of disability.Nearly 200 million experience considerable difficulties in functioning (World health organisation,2011).This has provided a motive for researchers to explore what difficulties disabled individuals experience, with a view to improve their lives.One area of study has been on individuals with limb loss, which is referred to as the ‘experience of parting with a limb of the body’(Cosby & Miller,1999). This is a difficult experience for the amputee but also to their family and social system.This qualitative study aims to explore the challenges amputees face when reintegrating into the community. Previous research specifically examining this subject has largely focused on the factors that impact upon adjustment following amputation (Atherton and Robertson,2006).This study seeks to examine this further by exploring the challenges faced by amputees and the ways in which they can be supported in terms of social and psychological support to ensure successful reintegration which can maximise their independency.Six participants were interviewed using semi-structured interviews lasting for one hour each. Interviews were recorded and subjected to narrative analysis. From this three significant themes were identified; a different life, ‘they all rallied round’ and ‘it’s all from books’.