Comparison of the Quality of Life and Post-traumatic Stress in Postmenopausal and Non-menopausal Women after Hysterectomy in Selected Hospitals of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in 2020

Abstract

Background: Hysterectomy is one of the most common gynecological surgeries that affect women's mental health and quality of life. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the correlation between the quality of life and post-traumatic stress in hysterectomized postmenopausal and non-menopausal women. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted from August to December 2019 on hysterectomized postmenopausal and non-menopausal women. There were 77 subjects in each group with a mean age of 52.55±1.098. They were selected via convenience sampling at Hazrat Zeinab (PBUH) and Shahid Dr. Faghihi Hospitals in Shiraz. They were evaluated in a two-month follow-up using the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (Weiss & Marmar, 1997) and WHO Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaires. Data were analyzed in SPSS-16 software using descriptive and inferential statistics (independent t-test, paired t-test, and Pearson or Spearman correlation coefficients). Results: Unlike the first stage of the study (before and a week after the surgery, P=0.289), there was a significant negative relationship in the quality of life and post-traumatic stress between postmenopausal and non-menopausal women (P=0.001) in the second stage (two months after the surgery). Hysterectomy increased the mean score of post-traumatic stress in postmenopausal and non-menopausal women after the surgery (P=0.179), while quality of life improved and stress decreased two months later (P=0.0001). Conclusion: Hysterectomy improved the quality of life in postmenopausal and significantly in non-menopausal women. Hence, due to the correlation and significant negative relationship between post-traumatic stress and quality of life, midwives, families, and the society need to pay attention to women’s quality of life.