Design and Usability of External Breast Prostheses
Systematic Literature Review
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https://doi.org/10.36704/transverso.v1i20.10861Keywords:
external breast prostheses, usability, user experience, mastectomyAbstract
External breast prostheses play a relevant role in the rehabilitation of women undergoing mastectomy, contributing to the reconstruction of body image and to the sense of normality. However, design-related limitations may compromise their usability and the users’ experience. This study aimed to conduct a Systematic Literature Review to understand how women who have undergone mastectomy perceive the design of these prostheses and how these characteristics influence their usability. The review followed PRISMA guidelines and included eight studies addressing design, usability, physical factors, and psychosocial and contextual dimensions of the user experience. The results indicated that attributes such as naturalness, body fit, stability, comfort, and bodily integration were central to the user experience, whereas limitations related to shape, weight, mobility, displacement, and adaptation compromised everyday use. It is concluded that usability constitutes a multidimensional phenomenon, resulting from the interaction between body, device, and context, requiring user-centered design approaches.
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