Effectiveness of Resilience Training and Experience Sharing in a Virtual Support Group on Increasing Hope for Life in Diabetic Patients with Amputation at Velayat Hospital, Mashhad

Background and Aim: Amputation is a significant life disruption, often stemming from diabetes, leading to mental and emotional distress in affected individuals. Resilience training may help improve the emotional state and instill hope in these patients. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of resilience training and experience sharing in a virtual support group on enhancing hope for life among diabetic amputees at Velayat Hospital, Mashhad, in 2023. Methods: This quasi-experimental study utilized a pre-test and post-test design with a control group. A sample of 30 diabetic amputee patients from Velayat Hospital was randomly assigned to experimental (n=15) and control (n=15) groups between January 20 and April 19, 2023. Data were collected using a demographic information checklist and Miller's hope for life questionnaire, analyzed via SPSS software (version 23) with independent two-sample t-tests. Results: Among the 30 participants, 22 (73.3%) were male, with an age range of 43 to 74 years (mean age: 57.73, SD: 8.34). Initially, males displayed higher hope for life scores, but post-intervention, females showed greater increases. There was a statistically significant difference between hope for life scores before (Mpre=152.20, SDpre=19.86) and after (Mpost=173.66, SDpost=13.33) the intervention (P=0.001, t=-4.285). This indicates a significant positive effect of the resilience training on hope scores (Cohen’s d(SMD): -1.26). Conclusion: Education and patient engagement in treatment significantly enhance quality of life and reduce anxiety, confirming the efficacy of resilience training and experience sharing among diabetic amputee patients.