A Counseling Program for Women after Hysterectomy: Effect on Post-Traumatic Stress and Quality of Life.
Research Abstract
Background: Hysterectomy is worldwide one of the most commonly performed obstetric/gynecological operations. It has a high toll of mortality. An estimated incident case of hysterectomy in Egypt at 2011 was 165,107. Quality of life (QoL) is a multidimensional evaluation of an individual's existing life circumstances in the background of their cultural value system. Post-traumatic stress (PTS) occurs in some cases following a traumatic event that involves threatened or actual death. The care of the women undergoing hysterectomy should meet both their physical and psychological needs, and this must involve their families. However, the psychological care such as the provision of sound information, emotional support and advice, are often missed. Thus, women having hysterectomy often express their interest in having counseling and in joining support groups since the exchange of information and experience would help improving their psychological distress. Aim of this study : to examine the effect of a counseling program for women having hysterectomy on their quality of life (QoL) and post-trauma stress. Subjects and Methods: The study conducted at the inpatient Obstetrics and Gynecology Units at Beni-Suef University Hospital using a quasi-experimental design on a convenience sample of 50 women having hysterectomy. An individualized counseling program was implemented for women after the operation. The fieldwork lasted from February to July 2016. The tool used in data collection was an interview questionnaire covering woman’ socio-demographic, obstetric, and medical histories, in addition to a QoL scale, and Davidson Trauma Scale (DTS) to assess PTS. Results: Women’s age ranged between 25 and 65 years, 56.0% were housewives and 64.0% living in urban areas. The most prevalent diagnosis was neoplasm and bleeding/prolapse and most prevalent symptom were pelvic pain, followed by bleeding and general fatigue. The most reported source of information about hysterectomy was nurses. Significant improvements in the QoL (p<0.001) and PTS frequency and severity (p=0.016) were revealed after implementation of the counseling program. Conclusion: Counseling has a positive effect on the QoL and PTS among women having hysterectomy. Recommendations: The counseling program should be applied for all women undergoing hysterectomy, with establishment of this service, and training of nurses and other concerned health care providers in its techniques. Online easily accessible counseling programs are also needed, with further research on their utilization and usefulness.
Research Keywords
Women,Hysterectomy,Quality life