Abstract
Patients with bladder (urothelial) cancer undergoing urinary diversion (UD) experience physical changes that require important adjustments in their daily lives. This integrative review aims to identify factors that influence adult adaptation to life after cystectomy with the creation of a UD. A review of primary research articles published between 1990 and 2014 was conducted using the PubMed and CINAHL Plus electronic databases. Results of the studies were summarized into 5 categories: (1) individual and family factors, (2) technical aspects related to the individual's ability to care for his or her UD, (3) perioperative nursing care, (4) educational needs, and (5) symptom experience. Bladder cancer patients treated with a cystectomy with a UD have a complex set of needs during postoperative adaptation to their reconstructed urinary system. This integrative review summarizes existing knowledge of factors that affect adaptation to a UD in patients with bladder cancer and may guide future studies. Research on this is limited and more studies are needed.