J Korean Acad Nurs.  2006 Aug;36(5):845-852.

Factors Influencing the Emotional State of Patients with Lymphedema

• Jung HM
• Cho MO

Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the emotional state and related factors in patients with lymphedema. METHODS: The subjects of this study consisted of 95 patients with lymphedema at 8 hospitals in Busan and Seoul. Data was collected by a self-administered questionnaire between March 2001 to December 2001. Data was analyzed by Pearson correlation coefficient, and stepwise multiple regression using SPSS Win 12.0. RESULTS: The mean score of the emotional state of the subjects was 3.06; of their physical symptoms, 1.84; of their Activities of Daily Living(ADLs), 2.30; and of their social activities, 3.67. The emotional states of lymphedema patients correlated with their physical symptoms, their ADLs, and their social activities. The Factor influencing the emotional state of the subjects was social activities. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that a negative emotional state is very common in patients with lymphedema, to which appropriate attention should be given. Rehabilitation programs must be implemented to improve lymphedema patients' emotional state, physical symptoms, ADLs, and social activities.

Keyword

Lymphedema; Emotions; Activities of daily living; Symptoms

MeSH Terms

Activities of Daily Living
Affective Symptoms
Aged
Breast Neoplasms/complications/diagnosis/psychology
*Emotions
Female
Humans
Lymphedema/diagnosis/etiology/*psychology
Male
Middle Aged
Questionnaires
Sickness Impact Profile
Social Behavior
Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/complications/diagnosis/psychology