Assessing the emotional needs of women with spontaneous premature ovarian failure.
OBJECTIVE
To examine women's emotional responses to learning the diagnosis of premature ovarian failure (POF) and identify the sources of support used for coping.


METHODS
Observational study.


METHODS
National Institutes of Health Clinical Center.


METHODS
One hundred women previously diagnosed with POF of median age 28 years at diagnosis.


METHODS
Structured telephone interviews based on focus group findings.


METHODS
Manner informed of POF diagnosis, emotional response, and areas of emotional support.


RESULTS
Overall, 71% were unsatisfied with the manner in which they were informed by their clinician, and 89% reported experiencing moderate to severe emotional distress at the time. The degree of emotional distress was positively correlated with the degree of dissatisfaction with the manner in which the women had been informed of the diagnosis. Thorough and accurate medical information on POF, support of others, and spirituality were perceived as helpful in coping.


CONCLUSIONS
Learning the diagnosis of POF can be emotionally traumatic and difficult for women. The findings suggest that the manner in which patients are informed of this diagnosis can significantly impact their level of distress. Patients perceive a need for clinicians to spend more time with them and provide more information about POF.
Groff
Allison A
AA
Section on Women's Health Research, Developmental Endocrinology Branch, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
Covington
Sharon N
SN
Halverson
Lynn R
LR
Fitzgerald
O Ray
OR
Vanderhoof
Vien
V
Calis
Karim
K
Nelson
Lawrence M
LM
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological / Q000502:physiology; D000328:Adult; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic / Q000379:methods; D016649:Primary Ovarian Insufficiency / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*