Impact of risk reduction strategies on the incidence of post mastectomy lymphedema / Ghada Mahmoud Mohammed Nabhan ; Supervised Khairia Abobaker Elsawi , Labiba Abdelkader Mohamed

Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Nursing - Department of Surgical Nursing

Lymphedema is one of the most frequently occurring problems in women after mastectomy. Therefore implementation of risk reduction strategies (exercise, diet and skin care) as early as the first day after mastectomy may be helpful in reducing such type of complications beside other aspects of treatment for mastectomy patients. Aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of risk reduction strategies on the incidence of post mastectomy lymphedema among female patients who undergone mastectomy. A convenient sample of 40 adult conscious patients were selected. Setting of the study was conducted in surgical wards and Nuclear Medicine Units in a University Hospital in Cairo. Quazi experimental research design has utilized in the current study. Tools of data collection were a- Socio- demographic Data Sheet b- Medical Data Sheet and c- Kissin scale. Results revealed that (47.5%) of the study subjects' age was above 45 years, (85%) were married and (90%) were housewives. A significant statistical differences between lymphedema measurements in the affected and unaffected arm at initial, second, third and fourth contact at four sites among study subjects. Study conclude that lymphedema not found on women who followed risk reduction strategies. Replication of this study is recommended on a large number of sample to obtain more generalizable results

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