NURSE PERCEPTION OF MENTAL HEALTH IN ONCOLOGY: INTEGRATIVE REVIEW

Abstract

This is an integrative literature review that aimed to analyze the scientific evidence regarding the role of nursing in the mental health care of oncology patients. The search was conducted in the SciELO, LILACS, BVS, and PubMed databases, using descriptors in Portuguese and English combined with Boolean operators (AND and OR). Articles published between 2021 and 2026, available in full text, in Portuguese, English, and Spanish were included. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 15 studies were selected for analysis. The results showed that oncology patients present a high prevalence of psychological distress, mainly manifested by anxiety, depression, and fear, directly impacting quality of life and treatment adherence. It was observed that nursing plays an essential role in the early identification of these conditions, in emotional support, and in the promotion of comprehensive care. The analysis of the studies revealed that, although the role of nurses is fundamental, there are still challenges related to workload, lack of specific training, and institutional limitations, which compromise the effectiveness of mental health care. It is concluded that strengthening professional training and multiprofessional care is essential to ensure comprehensive and humanized care for oncology patients.