Psychological and physical factors influencing the health-related quality of life of patients of a department of gynecology in a university hospital

Abstract

The aim of our study was to assess the physical and mental quality of life of in-patients of a Gynecological University Hospital and the factors influencing the quality of life. 715 women, who were treated in hospital with non-malignant or malignant gynecological or obstetrical diseases, took part in the study. Besides demographical data and relevant medical parameters the quality of life (SF-12), anxiety and depression (HADS) as well as physical discomforts (GBB) were assessed. The physical quality of life of the study population was significantly lower than that of the normal population (p < 0.001). Patients with obstetric diseases in comparison with patients with malignant gynecological and other gynecological diseases had the lowest physical quality of life. Regarding the mental factor, patients with malignant gynecological diseases feel most impaired, followed by those with other gynecological and obstetrical conditions. The multivariate analysis of the quality of life showed that up to 60% of the variance could be explained. The lowest variance elucidation was found in obstetrical patients in whom the physical complaints elucidated only a small part of the variance. Our results show on the one hand the high impairment of mental and especially of physical quality of life in women who are in hospital with gynecological or obstetrical diseases. On the other hand they show the great significance of the quality of life as an outcome parameter. These findings should be considered in gynecological in-patient treatments by using integrated psychosomatic care.

A longitudinal study on emotional adjustment of sarcoma patients: the determinant role of demographic, clinical and coping variables

“…These results are coherent with the general consensus that the majority of all oncology patients do not exhibit significant levels of emotional distress but report only negative psychological reactions that are expected, temporarily and part of a normal adjustment response (Bishop 1994;Fawzy & Fawzy 1994;White 2001;Zabora et al 2001;Moorey & Greer 2002;Carlson et al 2004;Holland et al 2006). In addition, research has documented that this pattern is observed across different phases of the disease trajectory (Andrykowski et al 2003;Carlson & Bultz 2003;Strong et al 2007;Arving et al 2008;Iconomou et al 2008), and some studies also have found levels of anxiety and depression below the cut-off threshold for 'caseness', as well as no significant differences between cancer patients and healthy controls in emotional distress measures, including in the diagnostic phase and during treatments (Allen et al 1997;Korfage et al 2006;Thuné-Boyle et al 2006;Weidner et al 2006). Therefore, as for cancer patients in general, also for sarcoma patients, the emotional impact of the disease and its treatments should not be overestimated.…”

Predictors of anxiety symptoms in the gynecological outpatient setting: The Thai experience

“…We used the STAI-Form Y1 which is sensitive in its detection of severity of ''anxiety symptoms'', whereas several other studies [37Á41] used diagnostic tools (short structured diagnostic interview for DSM-IV, ICD-10, GHQ-30, PSE, and PRIME-MD) to determine the prevalence of ''anxiety disorders'', not symptoms. However, one study indicated that a moderate level of anxiety (measured by using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) affected the quality of life in gynecological patients [54], suggesting it is clinically prudent to identify women with anxiety symptoms and not just those meeting threshold criteria for an anxiety disorder.…”