Ineffective self-management of lymphedema in mastectomized women: concept analysis

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the concept of “ineffective self-management of lymphedema” in mastectomized women. Methods: This is an analysis of the concept proposed by Walker and Avant, operationalized through an integrative literature review, organized into eight stages, and based on the following guiding questions: What is the definition of ineffective self-management in mastectomized women? What are the antecedents, attributes, and consequences of ineffective self-management in mastectomized women? How has ineffective selfmanagement of lymphedema been defined in the context of women who have undergone mastectomy? The search for articles was carried out in five electronic databases, with no date limit, from July 2022 to February 2023. Results: Antecedents (30) and consequents (19) were identified. Among them, the most frequent were the following, respectively: lack of family and/or social support and decreased quality of life. The most frequently identified defining attributes were the following: edema, swelling in the arm, feeling of heaviness in the limb, pain, numbness, and reduced function of the limb. Model and contrary cases were also designed to help decide on the use of the concept. Conclusion: The concepts resulting from the analysis contribute to clarifying the terms and development of language in nursing, and should be validated by judges and clinical practice for better application in clinical oncology.