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Supportive Care in Cancer

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01-05-2012 | Review Article

Assessing the body image: relevance, application and instruments for oncological settings

Authors: Maria Antonietta Annunziata, Lorena Giovannini, Barbara Muzzatti

Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer | Issue 5/2012

Abstract

Purpose

Body image is the sum of physical, cognitive, emotional, and relational elements that, when integrated, allow the development of a whole, healthy self-identity. Even though body image is normally studied in relation to eating disorders, it can also be influenced by other pathologies, including cancer. In oncology, an effective body image assessment is fundamental. The physical effects of cancer and cancer treatments are important and frequently irreversible also on a functional and emotional level; however, only few surveys have investigated body image in this peculiar context.

Methods

An extensive literature review was carried out in PubMed and PsycINFO. We considered articles published from 1990 to 2010.

Results

Two hundred sixty-three papers matched the search criteria. Assessment methodologies included clinical interviews, self-report measures, questionnaires, symptom check lists, and graphic tests and projective techniques. After excluding the instruments that referred to eating disorders, validated only for adolescents, and/or projective and graphic tests, we found 81 articles with six questionnaires specifically dedicated to body image assessment in oncology.

Conclusions

From our systematic review, we could identify six instruments specifically designed for assessing body image in the oncological area. In this paper, we discuss their general characteristics, psychometrics properties and the clinical implications, and body image relevance on the quality of life in cancer patients.

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Title: Assessing the body image: relevance, application and instruments for oncological settings
Authors: Maria Antonietta Annunziata
Lorena Giovannini
Barbara Muzzatti
Publication date: 01-05-2012
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer / Issue 5/2012
Print ISSN: 0941-4355
Electronic ISSN: 1433-7339
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-011-1339-x

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