title: The experience of viewing oneself in the mirror after a mastectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the experience of viewing oneself in a mirror following a mastectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ricoeur's hermeneutic phenomenology.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three hospitals in a nonprofit healthcare system in the southwestern United States.
  
  
  METHODS
  Purposive sample of 12 women 3-12 months postmastectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Structural analysis and phenomenologic interpretation of tape-recorded interviews.
  
  
  METHODS
  Viewing oneself in the mirror after a mastectomy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Viewing or not viewing one's own body, energizing and dispiriting thoughts, and supportive and unsupportive others helped to explain the experience of women who have had a mastectomy. The phenomenologic interpretation yielded four themes: I am, I decide, I see, and I consent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current study offers an understanding of the multifaceted experience of women postmastectomy. Mirrors appear to be essential in viewing and caring for the mastectomy site.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nurses should consider discussing the mirror experience with women who are having a mastectomy pre- and postoperatively. Nurses also may choose to offer a mirror to their patients when doing the initial dressing change and teaching wound care. Educational materials are needed for patients and nurses. In addition, future research is warranted on the use of mirrors when caring for patients who have had a mastectomy.
authors: College of Nursing, Texas Woman's University, USA. wfreysteinson@twu.edu
authors: Wyona M
authors: WM
authors: Freysteinson
authors: Amy S
authors: AS
authors: Deutsch
authors: Carol
authors: C
authors: Lewis
authors: Angela
authors: A
authors: Sisk
authors: Linda
authors: L
authors: Wuest
authors: Sandra K
authors: SK
authors: Cesario
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008408:Mastectomy / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000379:methods; D028701:Patient Rights; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology; D013527:Perioperative Nursing / Q000379:methods; D012649:Self Concept