Comparison of quality of life of persons who have experienced amputations and persons who have had bowel resections.

Comparing the quality of life of persons who have experienced amputations and persons who have had bowel resections illustrates the impact of chronic disease upon all aspects of a patient's life. Because the purpose of nursing research is to bring about knowledge to better direct patient care, understanding the impact of chronic illness contributes to an improvement in the quality of life of these patients. By appreciating the patient's perspective concerning the illness, the nurse can better educate the patient in all aspects of the disease process.