[Factors influencing the emotional state of patients with lymphedema].
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to investigate the emotional state and related factors in patients with lymphedema.


METHODS
The subjects of this study consisted of 95 patients with lymphedema at 8 hospitals in Busan and Seoul. Data was collected by a self-administered questionnaire between March 2001 to December 2001. Data was analyzed by Pearson correlation coefficient, and stepwise multiple regression using SPSS Win 12.0.


RESULTS
The mean score of the emotional state of the subjects was 3.06; of their physical symptoms, 1.84; of their Activities of Daily Living(ADLs), 2.30; and of their social activities, 3.67. The emotional states of lymphedema patients correlated with their physical symptoms, their ADLs, and their social activities. The Factor influencing the emotional state of the subjects was social activities.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that a negative emotional state is very common in patients with lymphedema, to which appropriate attention should be given. Rehabilitation programs must be implemented to improve lymphedema patients' emotional state, physical symptoms, ADLs, and social activities.
Jung
Hyang-Mi
HM
Department of Nursing, College of Natural Science, Dongeui University, 995 Eomgwangno Busanjin-gu, Busan 614-714, Korea. hmjung@deu.ac.kr
Cho
Myung-Ok
MO
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000342:Affective Symptoms; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008209:Lymphedema / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D012919:Social Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology