Evaluation of self-esteem in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment

descriptive analytical cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach. Around 156 patients that attended an oncology unit of a mid-sized hospital participated in the study.

Results:

we found a higher frequency of patients with high self-esteem, but some of them showed average or low self-esteem. The scale showed a Cronbach's alpha value of 0.746, by considering its acceptable internal consistency for the evaluated items. No independent variables showed significant associations with self-esteem.

Conclusion:

the cancer patients evaluated have presented high self-esteem; thus, it becomes crucial for nursing to plan the assistance of patients undergoing chemotherapy treatments, which enables actions and strategies that meet their physical and psychosocial conditions, aiming to maintain and rehabilitate these people's emotional aspects.

Self Concept; Neoplasms; Drug Therapy; Oncology Nursing

Variables	f	%
Type of cancer
	Other	50	32.1
	Breast	31	19.9
	Intestine	22	14.1
	Bone	18	11.5
	Lungs	13	8.3
	Uterus	8	5.1
	Stomach	7	4.5
	Esophagus	7	4.5
	Total	156	100.0
Stage
	Stage 0	1	100.0	0.6
	Stage 1	3	2.0
	Stage 2	28	17.9
	Stage 3	39	25.0
	Stage 4	19	12.2
	Not informed	66	42.3
	Total	156	100.0

Variables	f	%
Time of current cancer diagnosis
	Up to 6 months	83	53.2
	7 to 12 months	49	31.4
	13 to 18 months	10	6.5
	19 to 24 months	13	8.3
	Over than 24 months	1	0.6
	Total	156	100.0
Duration of chemotherapy
	Up to 6 months	96	100.0	61.5
	7 to 12 months	45	28.8
	13 to 18 months	10	6.4
	19 to 24 months	5	3.3
	Total	156	100.0
Sessions of chemotherapy
	Up to 6 sessions	85	100.0	54.5
	7 to 12 sessions	56	35.9
	13 to 18 sessions	9	5.8
	19 to 24 sessions	6	3.8
	Total	156	100.0

Variables	f	%
Other treatments besides chemotherapy
	Yes	76	48.7
	No	80	51.3
	Total	156	100.0
Type of treatment*
	Surgery	40	100.0	52.6
	Radiotherapy	23	30.3
	Surgery/radiotherapy	13	17.1
	Total	76	100.0
Cancer in other organs
	Yes	38	100.0	25.0
	No	117	75.0
	Total	156	100.0
Location of cancer^†
	Prostate	13	100.0	34.2
	Breast	10	26.3
	Other	9	21.1
	Intestine	4	10.5
	Lungs	2	5.3
	Total	38	100.0

Classification of self-esteem	f	%
High self-esteem	110	70.5
Average self-esteem	44	28.2
Low self-esteem	2	1.3
Total	156	100.0

Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto / Universidade de São Paulo Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, 14040-902 Ribeirão Preto SP Brazil, Tel.: +55 (16) 3315-3451 / 3315-4407 - Ribeirão Preto - SP - Brazil
E-mail: rlae@eerp.usp.br

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[1] Corresponding Author: Marilia Aparecida Carvalho Leite Universidade Federal de Alfenas Rua Gabriel Monteiro da Silva, 700 Centro CEP: 37130-000, Alfenas, MG, Brasil E-mail: lyla.leite@hotmail.com

Brasil

Brasil

Evaluation of self-esteem in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment1 1 Paper extracted from master's thesis "Avaliação da autoestima em pacientes oncológicos submetidos ao tratamento quimioterápico", presented to Universidade Federal de Alfenas, Alfenas, MG, Brazil.

Objective:

Method:

Results:

Conclusion:

Evaluation of self-esteem in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment¹ 1 Paper extracted from master's thesis "Avaliação da autoestima em pacientes oncológicos submetidos ao tratamento quimioterápico", presented to Universidade Federal de Alfenas, Alfenas, MG, Brazil.