| 英文摘要 |
The incidence of leukemia is the highest among all childhood and adolescent cancers in Taiwan, representing about 37% of total cancers. Body image is an important element of teenagers. Cancer per se and the side effects of cancer treatments can negatively impact the development of body image of adolescent patients. Therefore, it is important to explore the impact of cancer on the body image of the adolescent. This case report described an adolescent girl who experienced body image changes due to leukemia and the related chemotherapy treatments and adopted coping strategies. The data were collected by process recording and analyzed by the content analysis method. The findings included two parts in terms of body image changes and coping strategies. Body image changes included physical structural change, body function impairment, body sensation change, and social function change. Coping strategies included covering, emotional outlets, learning self-care skills, and searching for support. Through the efforts by the patient, her family members, and health professionals, the patient was not only able to talk to other hospitalized children and request for information actively, but also gradually accepted her changed body image and took over caring activities herself. It is important that nurses provide the adolescent suffering from cancer with support, such as listening, empathy, acceptance, and companionship. Family members and their peers should also be included in the nursing care plan. Nurses should encourage adolescents recognize their advantages to help them re-build their body image. |
