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Journals / Black Sea Journal of Health Science / 2026 / Cilt: 8 Sayı: 4

A Systematic Review of Nursing Intervention Studies for Lymphedema after Breast Cancer

Gizem Alkılınç(Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi)0009-0002-5842-4044
Merve Akıncı(KIRIKKALE UNIVERSITY, KIRIKKALE VOCATIONAL SCHOOL)0000-0003-3019-8444
Betülay Kılıç(UNIVERSITY OF HEALTH SCIENCES, GULHANE SCHOOL OF NURSING, DEPARTMENT OF NURSING SCIENCE, DEPARTMENT OF INTERNAL NURSING)0000-0002-4178-4003
Pages
172–181
Publication Date
2025-07-15
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Overall, interventions yielded positive outcomes.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:This systematic review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of nursing interventions in managing lymphedema after breast cancer treatment and their impact on clinical outcomes.
📊
Key Findings & Data:Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published between 2014 and 2024, examining nursing interventions for lymphedema after breast cancer treatment, were included.
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Conclusion & Impact:Overall, interventions yielded positive outcomes.
🔬Design:Review & Systematic Survey
📍Scope:2014 Verileri
⚙️Variables:Nursing · Lymphedema · Breast cancer

Abstract

This systematic review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of nursing interventions in managing lymphedema after breast cancer treatment and their impact on clinical outcomes. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published between 2014 and 2024, examining nursing interventions for lymphedema after breast cancer treatment, were included. A search was conducted in PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Web of Science, Wiley, DergiPark, Turkish National Thesis Center, and Google Scholar using relevant keywords. A total of 402 studies were screened. Exclusion criteria included studies that did not involve nursing interventions (n=126), were non-interventional (n=7), were not RCTs (n=48), were unrelated to lymphedema (n=39) or breast cancer (n=32), were published outside the 2014–2024 period (n=27), were systematic reviews (n=67), research protocols (n=8), or conference abstracts/book chapters (n=9). Eighteen RCTs met the inclusion criteria. Nursing interventions were categorized into 11 types: educational programs (theory-based, web/mobile), exercise, complex decongestive therapy, bandaging, compression garments, kinesio therapy, simple lymphatic drainage, myofascial release, laser therapy, negative pressure massage, and intermittent pneumatic compression. Intervention groups showed improvements in quality of life, self-care, and upper extremity function, along with reduced arm volume and lymphedema-related symptoms. Overall, interventions yielded positive outcomes. Further research is needed to assess long-term effects.

Özet

This systematic review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of nursing interventions in managing lymphedema after breast cancer treatment and their impact on clinical outcomes. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published between 2014 and 2024, examining nursing interventions for lymphedema after breast cancer treatment, were included. A search was conducted in PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Web of Science, Wiley, DergiPark, Turkish National Thesis Center, and Google Scholar using relevant keywords. A total of 402 studies were screened. Exclusion criteria included studies that did not involve nursing interventions (n=126), were non-interventional (n=7), were not RCTs (n=48), were unrelated to lymphedema (n=39) or breast cancer (n=32), were published outside the 2014–2024 period (n=27), were systematic reviews (n=67), research protocols (n=8), or conference abstracts/book chapters (n=9). Eighteen RCTs met the inclusion criteria. Nursing interventions were categorized into 11 types: educational programs (theory-based, web/mobile), exercise, complex decongestive therapy, bandaging, compression garments, kinesio therapy, simple lymphatic drainage, myofascial release, laser therapy, negative pressure massage, and intermittent pneumatic compression. Intervention groups showed improvements in quality of life, self-care, and upper extremity function, along with reduced arm volume and lymphedema-related symptoms. Overall, interventions yielded positive outcomes. Further research is needed to assess long-term effects.

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Cite This Article

Alkılınç, G., Akıncı, M., Kılıç, B. (2025). A Systematic Review of Nursing Intervention Studies for Lymphedema after Breast Cancer. Black Sea Journal of Health Science, Cilt: 8 Sayı: 4, 172–181. https://doi.org/10.19127/bshealthscience.1684336

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