Abstract
BackgroundThe prevalence of endometriosis is considerable but its diagnosis is a dilemma. The aim of this study was to explore the perception and experiences of endometriosis patients and physicians about occurrence and diagnosis of endometriosis.MethodsA qualitative research using content analysis was used to obtain data from purposely selected endometriosis patients (12 participants) and gynecologists (6 participants) from January to September 2013 in Tehran. Data were coded and analyzed using a thematic approach.ResultsSeven themes emerged: 1) pain localization, 2) Severity of pain and struggle for pain relief, 3) Feeling inability to play the role of femininity, 4) Reducing physical health, 5) Disruption of social life, 6) Looking for a reliable diagnostic indicator, 7) Uncertainty of physical examination. The results highlighted that patients with the disease can experience different feelings that interfere with their wellbeing and their lives, and sometimes could be disabling.ConclusionPatients and physicians are looking for a certain, noninvasive and inexpensive diagnostic method. This study helps to promote clinical diagnostic view and knowledge development about description of endometriosis diagnosis to decrease diagnostic delay and mismanagement.
Highlights
The prevalence of endometriosis is considerable but its diagnosis is a dilemma
You ever managed an endometriosis from the beginning to the end? How these patients express their problems? What do you do for diagnosis? To deepen the interviews such questions were asked: Is it possible to explain more? What do you mean? Why? How? Interviews were conducted in the hospital and lasted from 20 to 60 minutes
Based on the results emerged from content analysis and the themes; for the first time a description for occurrence and diagnosis of endometriosis was explored: “Diagnosis of endometriosis is accompanied by perceptions and symptoms in the forms of expressing discomfort from the varied and diffused pain and a feeling of vulnerability and severe pain to the extent that it leads to struggle for relieving the pain in these patients
Summary
The prevalence of endometriosis is considerable but its diagnosis is a dilemma. Endometriosis is a disease with considerable prevalence in communities. Women with endometriosis suffer from physical and mental symptoms that have an impact on all of their daily activities and quality of life [2,3,4]. A high hospital admission rate and surgical procedures and morbidity are reported in women with endometriosis [5]. Economic impact is another aspect of the disease. The annual financial burden of healthcare and productivity loss associated with endometriosis has been estimated at $2801 and $1023 per patient, respectively [6]. Simeons et al estimated that the total economic burden of the disease is
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