Experiences and challenges of family caregivers of people with lower limb amputation: a qualitative study.
Diana Fonseca Rodrigues, António Luís Rodrigues Faria de Carvalho, Cristina Maria Correia Barroso Pinto
PMID 40434110WHAT IT FOUND
Family caregivers of people with major lower limb amputation described exhaustion, fear of falls, and poor preparation for stump care and transfers.
They wanted practical home training, clear discharge information, and ongoing phone or visit support.
Key findings
01Caregivers described psychological exhaustion and feeling unprepared for home care tasks.
02Caregivers reported fear of falls and inadequate prosthesis assessment as major care difficulties.
03Caregivers wanted practical skills training, home visits, and phone support.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study was conducted at a single vascular surgery unit in northern Portugal, so the findings may not apply to other regions or services. It included only family caregivers, so amputee and healthcare provider perspectives were not captured. The cross-sectional design does not show cause and effect. Semi-structured interviews and researcher coding may introduce bias. Recruitment from follow-up consultations may miss caregivers who did not attend. The sample was mostly women, older adults, and spouses, so experiences of younger or non-spousal caregivers may differ.
Declared interests
The first author was funded by a doctoral scholarship from the FCT Foundation for Science and Technology. The study was also financed in part by CNPq in Brazil.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read these caregiver reports as evidence that any intervention reduced burden or improved outcomes. The study was qualitative and asked caregivers what they experienced and wanted. It did not test a treatment.