title: Body image disturbance in adults treated for cancer - a concept analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report an analysis of the concept of body image disturbance in adults who have been treated for cancer as a phenomenon of interest to nurses.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Although the concept of body image disturbance has been clearly defined in adolescents and adults with eating disorders, adults who have been treated for cancer may also experience body image disturbance. In this context, the concept of body image disturbance has not been clearly defined.
  
  
  METHODS
  Concept analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  PubMed, Psychological Information Database and Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature were searched for publications from 1937 - 2015. Search terms included body image, cancer, body image disturbance, adult and concept analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Walker and Avant's 8-step method of concept analysis was used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The defining attributes of body image disturbance in adults who have been treated for cancer are: (1) self-perception of a change in appearance and displeasure with the change or perceived change in appearance; (2) decline in an area of function; and (3) psychological distress regarding changes in appearance and/or function.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This concept analysis provides a foundation for the development of multidimensional assessment tools and interventions to alleviate body image disturbance in this population. A better understanding of body image disturbance in adults treated for cancer will assist nurses and other clinicians in identifying this phenomenon and nurse scientists in developing instruments that accurately measure this condition, along with interventions that will promote a better quality of life for survivors.
authors.affiliation: Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
authors.forename: Bethany A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Rhoten
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D012649:Self Concept; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: adult; appearance; body image disturbance; cancer; concept analysis; function; nursing; psychological distress