Quality of life and nursing care in the perception of mastectomized women

Abstract

Aim: To describe the perception of mastectomized women about the nursing care received and their own quality of life. Method: This is a qualitative, descriptive study performed through semi-structured interviews with 21 women who had undergone mastectomy, monitored from June to September 2013 in a mastology outpatient clinic at a maternity-school in Fortaleza, Ceará State, Brazil. Data were subjected to thematic analysis. Results: Two categories emerged: “Mastectomized women’s quality of life” and “Nursing care to mastectomized women”. Conclusions: For mastectomized women, quality of life is linked to having health, healthy eating, peace, spirituality, work and physical activity. They revealed that nursing care involves technique and theory, requiring care with total comprehension and ethics, respecting cultural and social aspects. The research hopes to encourage and sensitize new discussions, focusing mainly in the care of mastectomized women, in order to improve their quality of life