Mirror Therapy: Impact of Mobile Follow-up Enhancement Nursing Program on Health Status and Coping Strategies among Elderly Women with Mastectomy

Introduction: Mastectomy negatively on health status, upper limb function, and coping strategies among elderly women, enhancement nursing program based on mirror therapy is an effective way to help elderly women restore their health status. Aim of the study: To appraise the impact of mobile follow-up enhancement nursing program on health status and coping strategies among elderly women with mastectomy based on mirror therapy. Research design: Quasi-experimental research design. Research setting: the study was performed at the oncology outpatient building, Zagazig University Hospital. Sample: Judgmental sample of 50 elderly women. Tools: collected data by four tools, (I): personal and health profile data interview questionnaire, (II): The Short Form 12 health survey (III) scale of disabilities of arm, shoulder, and hand (DASH) and (IV): Adaptive Coping Strategies Questionnaire. Result: 60.0 % of the studied elderly women aged between 60 to < 70 years old, less than two-fifths of them had secondary education, there was a statistically significant improvement in health status, DASH, and coping strategy level after mobile follow-up enhancement nursing program at post-program and follow up phases compared to pre-program phase. Moreover, level of education, onset surgery, and mirror therapy were statistically significant negative predictors of DASH level among studied elderly women. Conclusion: A mobile follow-up enhancement nursing program based on mirror therapy was an effective method for improving health status, upper limb disabilities & dysfunction, and coping strategies among elderly women with mastectomy. Recommendation: health centers-based support groups that include psychologists and consultants for women after mastectomy are needed to improve their health status and coping strategies.