Investigation of the psychological condition of women with mastectomy

The study was conducted to investigate psychiatric status of women experienced mastectomy operation. This research which was planned as descriptive and cross-sectional was conducted in the oncology and surgical operation departments of two public hospitals and oncology department of a university hospital within the Ankara territory in the period between May 2012 and February 2013. Sampling group of the study was consisted of 90 women experienced mastectomy operation. Data were collected by the researcher through Data Collection Form and applica-tion of the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI). During data evaluation, descriptive statistics, the Pearson correlation test, Mann Whitney U-Test and Kruskall Wallis Test were utilized. According to the research results, it was determined that 25.6% of the women experienced mastectomy were 61 years old and over; 75.6% of them were married; 43.3% of them were graduates of a secondary school. 50% of the sampling group was experienced operation on their left breast; 56.7% of them did not have any aesthetical correctional surgery operation in the post-mastectomy period; 53.3% of them experienced a change in their family life following the mastectomy surgery. Average score for Psychiatric Symptom Levels of women experienced mastectomy operation was estimated 1.19±0.59. Moreover, a significant difference between pa-tients' average Psychiatric Symptom Level score and their age, martial status, whether they have children, income level, being informant regarding breast cancer, and whether they have any initiative in regard to aesthetical view was determined. Research findings reveal that average Psychiatric Symptom Level score was over 1.00 (52.2%)(n=47) ; and that there is a psycho-pathological condition among women experienced mastectomy surgery. Along with these results, it is suggested that nurses must consider women patients experienced mastectomy in respect to psychiatric aspect and take necessary actions.