Barriers and benefits to self-care from the perspective of women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy

Abstract

Objective: To identify barriers and benefits of self-care from the perspective of women undergoing chemotherapy. Methods: A descriptive, qualitative study conducted in an oncology hospital with 40 women with breast cancer. For data collection, a semi-structured interview was used, whose analysis was guided by the Health Belief Model and Bardin's Content Analysis. Results: In the analysis, two categories emerged. In the first one, "Barriers to Self-Care", the following stand out: the impact of side effects, doubts and excess information; the exhausting routine of the therapeutic path; the need for isolation due to the pandemic; and difficulty in changing habits. In the second one, "Perceived Benefits about Self-Care", the following stand out: the reduction of undesirable effects of treatments; psychological and mental well-being; and willingness to perform daily activities. Conclusion: Women with breast cancer face several barriers due to the impacts of the adverse effects of treatments, which results in low adherence to self-care practices. The availability of information on the benefits of positive health habits, such as adequate diet, physical activity, rest/sleep and leisure, can act to reduce these effects and their consequences. Thus, health professionals can assist and guide women in engaging and actively participating in self-care.