title: Evaluation of self-esteem in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the self-esteem of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitário Alzira Velano, Alfenas, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marilia Aparecida Carvalho
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Leite
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Universidade Federal de Alfenas, Alfenas, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Denismar Alves
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Nogueira
authors.affiliation: Escola de Enfermagem, Universidade Federal de Alfenas, Alfenas, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fábio de Souza
authors.initials: Fde S
authors.lastname: Terra
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D012649:Self Concept