The Role of Rehabilitation Nurses in Empowering Mastectomised Women for Self-Care: A Scoping Review
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Methodology
2.1. Study Design
2.1.1. Research
2.1.2. Research Question
2.1.3. Strategy PCC
- Population (P): Mastectomised women;
- Concept (C): Interventions of the Rehabilitation Nurse;
- Context (C): Empowerment for self-care.
2.1.4. Inclusion Criteria
2.1.5. Study Types
2.1.6. Search Strategy
2.1.7. Study Selection Process
2.1.8. Data Analysis and Extraction
2.1.9. Data Synthesis and Evaluating the Quality of Studies
3. Results
4. Discussion
5. Study Limitations
6. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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References | Objectives | Interventions | Level of Evidence |
---|---|---|---|
[22] | Recognise the importance of the nurse in the post-operative period to assist women in rehabilitation after mastectomy with axillary lymph node dissection. | - Education for mastectomised women on shoulder mobilisation, medication administration, weightlifting, and anxiety control. - Promotion of self-care, encouraging physical exercise and skin care. - Psychological support through listening and welcoming to help women cope with body image changes, define strategies for self-image acceptance, involve family, develop individualised care plans, and guide towards community support groups. | 2.b Systematic review of quasi-experimental designs |
[23] | Describe the experiences of mastectomised women in the home setting. Identify the importance attributed by women to the intervention of the Rehabilitation Nurse. | - Empower, educate, and teach about exercises to improve the range of motion and reduce oedema, the use of devices like compression sleeves, and skin care. - Promotion of functionality using strategies to perform ADL with less pain and effort, and task adaptation to facilitate independence. - Emotional support promoting acceptance and self-confidence. | 3 Single qualitative study |
[24] | Identify nursing actions that restore self-esteem in patients undergoing mastectomy. | - Prevent complications secondary to surgery and promote independence in functional capacity recovery. - Perform physical exercises and lymphatic drainage exercises. - Emotional support for prevention of psychological and body image-related complications. - Encourage self-reflection. - Support return-to-life activities, social, leisure, work, and family. - Implement respiratory rehabilitation programs. | 3.b Systematic review of comparable cohorts |
[25] | Recognise how mastectomised women describe and understand the nursing care received in a rehabilitation centre. | - Education on lymphedema prevention. - Perform physical exercises aimed at preventing and controlling complications with the arm and shoulder after surgery. - Promote social and leisure activities (such as discussion groups). | 3 Single qualitative study |
[26] | Map the use of exergames in the rehabilitation of individuals undergoing breast surgery, identifying health gains from implementing this technology. | - Functional exercises associated with exergames. | 1.b Systematic review of RCT |
[15] | What is the relationship between implementing a rehabilitation program and the self-care performance capacity in women undergoing breast surgery with lymph node dissection? | - Education on lymphedema risk-reduction measures, upper limb and cervical spine mobilisation exercises, and scar massage. - Application of a daily 45 min program for 3 months. | 2.c Quasi-experimental prospectively controlled study |
[27] | Determine the value of using Neuman’s Systems Model in providing care to women undergoing mastectomy. | - Assessment of stressors and their source pre-operatively, peri-operatively, and post-operatively. - Education on the surgical plan and possible complications pre-operatively. - Education on post-operative care. | 1.d Pseudo-RCTs |
[28] | Analyse scientific productions from the last 10 years addressing actions and guidelines on the discharge plan for women undergoing mastectomy. | - Promotion of self-care, considering the participation of the mastectomised woman herself in the process of preventing complications, recovery, and rehabilitation after surgery. - Education for the woman and family/caregivers about post-operative care and warning signs. - Formulate discharge plans with the woman and family/caregivers. - Emotional support. | 3.b Systematic review of comparable cohorts |
[29] | Describe the experience lived in an interdisciplinary follow-up centre for mastectomised women at a public university in São Paulo during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. | - Physical exercise for lymphedema reduction and prevention. - Group therapy. - Teaching exercises to be performed at home. - Clarify doubts the woman may have about the process. | 3.d Case—controlled study |
[30] | Identify functionality indicators and types of interventions used for functional assessment and rehabilitation of the upper limb in post-mastectomy women. | - Perform joint mobilisation, stretching, and muscle strengthening. | 1.b Systematic review of RCT |
[31] | Identify and describe conservative interventions and clinical outcome assessment tools used in the peri-operative physical rehabilitation of women with breast cancer awaiting or having undergone mastectomy. | - Patient education. - Performance of physical exercise. - Performance of lymphatic drainage. - Assessment of shoulder joint range of motion. - Assessment of muscle strength. | 2.b Systematic review of quasi-experimental designs |
Interventions: | Articles: |
---|---|
Education on care for upper limb mobilisation and lymphedema prevention. | [15,22,23,25,31] |
Promotion of self-care. | [22,28] |
Empowerment for return to daily life activities. | [23,24] |
Education for family/caregivers. | [22,28] |
Education, empowerment, and promotion of physical exercise. | [23,29] |
Emotional and social support. | [22,24,27,28] |
Performance of exercises for muscle strengthening and lymphedema prevention. | [25,26,28,29,30,31] |
Functional respiratory rehabilitation. | [24] |
Assessment of muscle strength and joint range of motion. | [24] |
Discharge plan with the woman and family/caregivers. | [28] |
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Rodrigues, M.; Deus, I.; Bengalinha, P.; Duro, R.; Carpinteiro, D.; Ferreira, R.; Silva, C.; Fonseca, C. The Role of Rehabilitation Nurses in Empowering Mastectomised Women for Self-Care: A Scoping Review. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22, 957. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22060957
Rodrigues M, Deus I, Bengalinha P, Duro R, Carpinteiro D, Ferreira R, Silva C, Fonseca C. The Role of Rehabilitation Nurses in Empowering Mastectomised Women for Self-Care: A Scoping Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2025; 22(6):957. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22060957
Chicago/Turabian StyleRodrigues, Madalena, Inês Deus, Pedro Bengalinha, Raquel Duro, David Carpinteiro, Rogério Ferreira, Celso Silva, and César Fonseca. 2025. "The Role of Rehabilitation Nurses in Empowering Mastectomised Women for Self-Care: A Scoping Review" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 22, no. 6: 957. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22060957
APA StyleRodrigues, M., Deus, I., Bengalinha, P., Duro, R., Carpinteiro, D., Ferreira, R., Silva, C., & Fonseca, C. (2025). The Role of Rehabilitation Nurses in Empowering Mastectomised Women for Self-Care: A Scoping Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 22(6), 957. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22060957