Psychosocial functioning of women after mastectomy. Part II. Assessment of psychological support obtained during the post-operative period by women after mastectomy

Introduction
Breast cancer is the cause of numerous psychological problems that hinder the psychosocial functioning of women affected thereby. Therefore, support is crucial because it allows for looking at this disease and aspects connected therewith from a different perspective, leading, as a result, to its acceptance. The aim of the study was the assessment of psychological support obtained during the post-operative period by women after mastectomy.

Material and methods
The study comprised a group of 52 women after mastectomy, belonging to the Association of Women with Cancer Problems “The Amazon” in Tarnów and Brzesko. Author’s own survey questionnaire was used as a research tool, developed to identify the main problems of respondents during the post-operative period, sources of support and their assessment.

Results
The analysis of obtained material demonstrates that 64% of respondents assessed the psychological support obtained in the hospital as insufficient, however, in the opinion of 54% of women, the support obtained in their residential environment was sufficient. As the main source of psychological support during the post-operative period, 63% of respondents indicated both hospital staff and family. It is worthwhile to mention that 88% of respondents postulated the need for psycho-oncologist care during the post-operative period.

Conclusions
Support during the post-operative period is very important from the perspective of improving the psychological comfort of patients and optimisation of treatment process, therefore, it is so crucial to seek development of medical staff’s skills as regards the provision of support to cancer patients and dealing with own emotions. Also, it seems to be justified to develop and implement certain criteria for the selection of medical staff employed in cancer departments as well as to introduce psycho-oncologist’s care as a standard procedure in the treatment of cancer patients.