[The Life Impacts and Symptom Distress in Women With Pelvic Organ Prolapse Syndrome Before Pelvic Reconstruction Surgery].
BACKGROUND
The decision whether or not to undergo pelvic reconstructive surgery is difficult for women suffering from pelvic organ prolapse. However, little research has examined the symptom distress and life impacts that these women face prior to this surgery. Thus, it is crucial that gynecology nurses learn about these life impacts and symptom distresses in order to help these women make the best decisions with regard to surgery.


OBJECTIVE
To explore the life impacts and degree of symptom distress in pre-surgery women with pelvic organ prolapse; to explore the relationships between demographic data and the variables of life impact and degree of symptom distress; and to identify the factors that relate to the explainable variance in the life impacts of these women.


METHODS
A cross-sectional and correlational research design was used and a total of 110 women with pelvic organ prolapse who had not yet undergone pelvic reconstruction surgery were recruited in the gynecological clinics of one medical center in Taiwan.


RESULTS
Daytime urination frequency was the most prevalent urinary tract symptom noted by the participants; vaginal protrusion was the most prevalent pelvis-related symptom noted; and depression and anxiety were the most prevalent life impacts noted. Moreover, greater lower-urinary-tract symptom distress was associated with greater pelvic-symptom distress. Furthermore, greater lower urinary tract and pelvic symptom distresses were associated with a greater negative impact on life. Education background and pelvis-related symptoms were the explained variances in pre-surgery life impacts.


CONCLUSIONS
Women with pelvic organ prolapse should pay particular attention to symptoms that include: daytime urinary frequency, vaginal protrusion, and emotional problems including depression and anxiety. Education background and level of symptom distress should be taken into consideration when caring for the life impacts of this vulnerable group of women.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan, ROC.
I-Chen
IC
Ko
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keelung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan, ROC.
Tsia-Shu
TS
Lo
Department of Nursing, National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences, Taiwan, ROC.
Yu-Ying
YY
Lu
College of Nursing, and Vice President, National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences, Taiwan, ROC. leeing.tsao@gmail.com.
Lee-Ing
LI
Tsao
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D056887:Pelvic Organ Prolapse / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery; D010388:Pelvis / Q000601:surgery*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures
lifestyle impact; pelvic organ prolapse syndrome; pelvic reconstructive surgery; symptom distress; women health