Enhancing Psychosocial Well-being: The Application of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in Patients Following Amputation

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to examine the impact of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) on individuals post-amputation. Methods: A total of 100 post-amputation patients admitted to the Department of Traumatic Hand and Foot Surgery at X Hospital between October 2022 and April 2023 were selected using a convenient sampling method. Through random assignment, participants were divided into a control group and an experimental group (50 participants each). The control group received standard nursing care, while the experimental group underwent Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Pre-intervention and post-intervention assessments, at three and six months, included evaluations of psychological flexibility, stigma, and disability acceptance. Results: Forty-eight participants in the control group and 47 in the experimental group completed the study. Following the intervention, the experimental group exhibited significantly lower scores on the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (AAQ-II) and Social Impact Scale (SIS) compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Disability acceptance, measured by the Acceptance of Disability Scale-Revised (ADS-R), was higher in the intervention group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy demonstrated efficacy in enhancing mental flexibility, fostering disability acceptance, and reducing stigma post-amputation. Conclusion: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy proved effective in enhancing psychological flexibility, promoting disability acceptance, reducing stigma, and facilitating reintegration into society among post-amputation patients.