PURPOSE: Breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) self-management plays an important role in the lymphedema therapy. However, clinical knowledge of BCRL self-management remains minimal. This study aims to explore the experience surrounding lymphedema self-management from the perspectives of BCRL patients and healthcare professionals. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were implemented with BCRL patients and healthcare professionals. Audio-recordings of interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematic analysis was undertaken to analyze the interview data. RESULTS: Thirteen BCRL patients (aged 34-65 years) and nine healthcare professionals (2 physicians, 4 nurses, and 3 lymphedema therapists) were interviewed. Five themes emerged from interviews with participants: knowledge-attitude-practice surrounding lymphedema self-management, emotional reactions towards lymphedema self-management, factors influencing lymphedema self-management, support needs for lymphedema self-management, healthcare professional support of BCRL self-management. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed knowledge-attitude-practice, feelings, influencing factors, roles, dilemmas, and support needs regarding BCRL self-management. Greater effort is required for healthcare professionals to strengthen the lymphedema self-management. Providing more educational program and holistic support, and strengthening the facilitators and controlling the barriers might benefit promoting lymphedema self-management. Likewise, healthcare professionals need adequate training to be able to meet patients' self-management support needs.
PURPOSE:Breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) self-management plays an important role in the lymphedema therapy. However, clinical knowledge of BCRL self-management remains minimal. This study aims to explore the experience surrounding lymphedema self-management from the perspectives of BCRL patients and healthcare professionals. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were implemented with BCRL patients and healthcare professionals. Audio-recordings of interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematic analysis was undertaken to analyze the interview data. RESULTS: Thirteen BCRL patients (aged 34-65 years) and nine healthcare professionals (2 physicians, 4 nurses, and 3 lymphedema therapists) were interviewed. Five themes emerged from interviews with participants: knowledge-attitude-practice surrounding lymphedema self-management, emotional reactions towards lymphedema self-management, factors influencing lymphedema self-management, support needs for lymphedema self-management, healthcare professional support of BCRL self-management. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed knowledge-attitude-practice, feelings, influencing factors, roles, dilemmas, and support needs regarding BCRL self-management. Greater effort is required for healthcare professionals to strengthen the lymphedema self-management. Providing more educational program and holistic support, and strengthening the facilitators and controlling the barriers might benefit promoting lymphedema self-management. Likewise, healthcare professionals need adequate training to be able to meet patients' self-management support needs.
Entities:
Keywords:
Breast cancer; Healthcare professional; Lymphedema; Qualitative study; Self-management
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