The effect of Combined Decongestive Therapy and Pneumatic Compression Pump on Body Image in Patients with Lymphedema Secondary to Breast Cancer Treatment

Abstract

Background: Self- esteem is defined as confidence in one’s own worth or abilities. Low self- esteem may lead to failure to solve problems or not being able to use one’s abilities. However, due to the chronic nature of this disease, this study was conducted to compare self-esteem in idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura patients and healthy cases.Methods: This is a descriptive-comparative study in which 64 randomly selected idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura patients referring to Seyed Al-Shohada Hospital in Isfahan along with the same number of healthy people from the patients’ neighborhoods (as the control group) participated. The data collection instrument used in the study was Coppersmith self-esteem inventory which was completed by the subjects. The data were analyzed by SPSS 15 and through using independent T-test, chi-square, and Mann-Whitney tests.Results: The study results showed that 64.1% of the subjects in both the treatment and control groups were older than 35 years old, 59.4% were females, and 53.1% had primary educational degree. Independent T-test showed a significant difference between the two groups in terms of the mean score of self-esteem. (p<0.01)Conclusion: Considering patients’ low self-esteem and the fact that their ability to make decisions and control the disease and its treatment have important role in raising their self-esteem, treatment team is responsible to recognize related factors and empower the patients’ self- worth to help them to achieve this goal.