Dorit Tidhar and Jane M Armer. Journal of Lymphoedema, 2018, Vol 13, No 1

Main findings

• The participants in this study were full of hope before they started the intensive therapy. They defined the meaning of success as an improvement, or disappearance of the swelling. However, there was lack of clarity as to the transition to the long-term management phase.
• The second aim of the study was to understand what people with lymphoedema consider to be the meaning of success in the maintenance (long-term) phase. Two themes emerged from the data:
  • Empowerment
  • Maintenance vs back to normal (acceptance versus hope).