Body Image Among Women with Breast Wound: A Concept Analysis

Introduction: The care and treatment of wound involves both the physical and psychological aspects of scarring. But what do we know about the impact of a lesion on one’s body image?

Purpose: This analysis aims to define the concept of body image among adult women who display a breast wound.  The literature surveyed demonstrates that this is a rarely explored subject. Thus it is important that it be studied and researched. 

Methodology: The methodology used for this for this concept analysis is that of Walker and Avant (2011). This methodology, consisting of eight steps, is accessible, simply structured, and concludes with the end concept made concrete and operational. 

Results: The results of our analysis lead us to several definitions relative to body image. According to Chan (2010), it is difficult to ascertain a specific definition of body image related to visible wounds; but generally, the definition proposed by Price (1990) connects directly with our subject of interest. According to Walker and Avant (2011), the characteristics of a concept are its attributes, its antecedents and its consequences. These elements have been extracted from the literature in order to define the characteristics of the concept in line with the subject of interest. A model case and a contrary case were also used to clarify and illustrate the body image concept. The empirical referents serve to make the concept operational, and to diminish its level of abstraction. Two means of specifically considering body image appear in the literature: Body Image Model (Price, 1990) and The Body Image Questionnaire (Bruchon-Schweitzer, 1987). 

Conclusion: The concept analysis proposed in this work allows us to transpose the concept of body image from an abstract level to a concrete, operational level, thereby fostering knowledge and understanding.