OBJECTIVES: The main objective was to measure adherence to an early rehabilitation program among women who underwent mastectomy. Other specific objectives included the identification of women's difficulties to comply with the exercise prescription and to perform daily life activities, and whether women's adherence to the rehabilitation program was effective in regaining their shoulder's full range of motion on the side of the surgery. METHODS: A prospective study design was used. A sample of 28 women who underwent mastectomy and agreed to participate in an early rehabilitation program from discharge to the first outpatient clinic follow-up participated in the study. Data were collected from 2003 to 2004 in the oncomastology outpatient clinic of the Hospital São Paulo of the University Federal of São Paulo. RESULTS: The majority of women (63.2%) adhered to the early rehabilitation program. The majority of women (82.1%) also reported having difficulties to perform the prescribed exercise program due to pain but not with daily life activities. CONCLUSION: Pain management and patient education must be addressed to improve adherence to the early rehabilitation program.
Patient compliance; Breast neoplasm; Mastectomy; Rehabilitation nursing; Oncologic nursing
