Journal
JOURNAL OF PSYCHOSOMATIC OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY
Volume 42, Issue 3, Pages 174-180Publisher
TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD
DOI: 10.1080/0167482X.2019.1678022
Keywords
Endometriosis; satisfaction with health care; self-management; collaborative care
Funding
- Victorian Government Department of Health and Human Services, Australia
Ask authors/readers for more resources
The study compared patient and practitioner perceptions of endometriosis in primary healthcare, finding that patients reported healthcare providers may overlook symptoms, provide inconsistent advice, and have unsuccessful treatments. Health professionals acknowledged limitations in expertise, persistent myths, and challenges in achieving best practices, suggesting the need for improved collaborative care skills and individualized treatment plans.
Purpose: Endometriosis is a chronic condition where endometrial-like cells proliferate outside the uterus causing pain and disability. Limited treatments are available but symptom management is essential for social and economic participation. The aim was to compare women's and health professionals' perceptions of quality of endometriosis health care and opportunities for improvements. Methods: Women participated in closed moderated online discussion groups and health professionals in semi-structured telephone interviews. Discussion group text and interview transcripts were thematically analyzed using the Framework Analysis approach. Results: Forty-six women, 12 general practitioners (GPs), and 1 gynecologist participated. Endometriosis can have debilitating consequences. However, women reported that healthcare providers may dismiss symptoms, lack essential knowledge and provide inconsistent advice; treatments are seldom successful or without adverse side-effects. Health professionals acknowledged limitations in expertise, persistent myths, and challenges in achieving best practice. Enhancing collaborative care skills, individualized treatment plans, and local referral pathways to multi-disciplinary care may improve satisfaction with endometriosis care-giving and receiving. Conclusions: This is the first comparison of patient and practitioner perceptions of endometriosis in primary healthcare. Models of multi-disciplinary, collaborative care need to be developed and evaluated against consumer-informed measures of women's wellbeing, quality of life and satisfaction with symptom management and health care.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available