SIGNIFICADOS DA INCONTINÊNCIA URINÁRIA PÓS-PROSTATECTOMIA: UM ESTUDO DE CONTRIBUIÇÃO DA ESTOMATERAPIA

Introduction: prostate cancer is a very common malignancy among men. Radical prostatectomy is the most effective treatment method used for this type of cancer. Erectile dysfunction is a condition in which there is a persistent inability to achieve or maintain a penile erection during sexual intercourse. Post-radical prostatectomy urinary incontinence has numerous repercussions for men, including emotional aspects. Thus, the following research problem was established: assistance to people in this life condition – developing post-prostatectomy urinary incontinence – cannot be singular and limited to physical aspects. Objective: to understand the meanings of urinary incontinence for people undergoing prostatectomy. Method: this study is a meta-synthesis about men’s perceptions about post-prostatectomy urinary incontinence. Meta-synthesis is an emerging area in the health sciences that consists of synthesizing the findings from qualitative studies in order to create new interpretations. Results: four qualitative articles composed this meta-synthesis. The four selected articles address urinary incontinence not as the main topic of the four studies, but appear in nuances in all of them, reiterating the importance of the theme. All the articles addressed urinary incontinence as a serious problem that interferes with the quality of life and self-esteem of men who experience it. Conclusions: Urinary incontinence can generate negative feelings, ranging from anxiety and depression to feelings of shame, which prevent men from living their lives fully.