Date Approved
7-7-2025
Graduate Degree Type
Project
Degree Name
Occupational Therapy (M.S.)
Degree Program
Occupational Science and Therapy
First Advisor
Claire Dolislager, DrOT, OTRL, CLT-LANA
Second Advisor
Susan Cleghorn, DrOT, OTRL, TRS, CAPS, FNAP
Third Advisor
Amy Colthorp, OTRL, CLT
Fourth Advisor
Jordyn Stehouwer, RN, OCN, ONS/ONCC
Academic Year
2024/2025
Abstract
Lymphedema is a chronic, progressive condition that negatively impacts daily life. It occurs when there is damage to the lymphatic system, resulting in poor movement of lymphatic fluid throughout the body. Existing research on effective lymphedema management is conducted primarily from the health professionals’ point of view and centers around actions taken by healthcare professionals to help clients manage lymphedema. There is limited research concerning client perceptions of or client directed actions that foster successful lymphedema management. This study saught to gather client perceptions on what it means to successfully manage lymphedema, identify client strategies and therapist interventions that contribute most to client perceptions of long-term success following discharge from lymphedema therapy, as well as identify factors that seem to detract from a client’s ability to successfully manage lymphedema in the long-term following discharge from lymphedema therapy. A cross-sectional, mixed methods survey design was employed. Twenty-one individuals who met the inclusion criteria anonymously completed the survey. Results demonstrate that the majority of respondents viewed managing symptoms as an essential component of long-term successful management. Daily compression was identified as a common strategy clients implement to successfully manage lymphedema, which is consistent with existing literature regarding healthcare professional recommendations. Future research should include a larger sample size, as the challenge of accessing individuals with lymphedema proved to be a limitation of this study. A larger sample size would enhance generalizability of the findings to a larger population.
ScholarWorks Citation
Hamel, Haley C.; Erdman, Hannah K.; Gunn, Cailin E.; Phillips, Morgan N.; and Willey, Austin T., "Client Perceptions of Successful Lymphedema Management" (2025). Culminating Experience Projects. 584.
https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/gradprojects/584
