[The adaptation process and behavioral responses of a patient with peripheral arterial occlusive disease who has...

The purpose of this study was to explore the adaptation and behavioral responses of an 85 year-old woman who suffered from gangrene related to peripheral arterial occlusive disease and finally underwent lower limb amputation. The field method was adopted. Records of the patient's behaviors were collected by observation and interviews. The data were recorded by nursing process recording and analyzed using the Behavior Classification Model. The findings showed the patient's behavioral responses to be categorized by three phases. The first phase was the impact phase: patient objected to amputation strongly because it would destroy her body image. She experienced moods of anxiety and denial moods etc. The second phase was the regressive phase: after the amputation, the patient experienced a sense of loss and discomfort while having to cooperate with medical treatment and rehabilitation. Silence, withdrawal, and despair were some of her reactions. The third phase was the acceptance/ reconstruction phase: the patient accepted the fact of her amputation with time and started her rehabilitation. During the process of providing nursing care, we helped the patient to vent her emotional responses, helped her to develop awareness of her ability to face the loss of her limb, and aggressively planned individualized rehabilitation for her. Finally, these interventions enabled the patient to overcome the impact of her amputation. The findings of this study should provide references for further clinical nursing care.