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Quality of life among women after surgery for ovarian cancer

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 July 2008

Dena Schulman-Green ,
Elizabeth Ercolano ,
Michael Dowd ,
Peter Schwartz  and
Ruth Mccorkle
Dena Schulman-Green*
Affiliation:
Yale School of Nursing, New Haven, Connecticut
Elizabeth Ercolano
Affiliation:
Yale School of Nursing, New Haven, Connecticut
Michael Dowd
Affiliation:
Yale School of Nursing, New Haven, Connecticut
Peter Schwartz
Affiliation:
Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
Ruth Mccorkle
Affiliation:
Yale School of Nursing, New Haven, Connecticut
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Dena Schulman-Green, Yale School of Nursing, 100 Church Street South, P.O. Box 9740, New Haven, CT 06536-0740. E-mail: dena.schulman-green@yale.edu
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Abstract

Objectives:

Difficulties with diagnosis and aggressive, long-term treatment may result in lower quality of life (QOL), including high levels of anxiety, depression, and uncertainty, greater symptom distress, and lower overall QOL among women with avarian cancer. The purpose of this study was to describe demographic, clinical, and other risk factors associated with compromised QOL among women who have undergone surgery for avarian malignancies.

Methods:

Subjects were recruited to participate in a clinical trial that tested a specialized nursing intervention addressing psychological and physical care among women post-surgical for avarian cancer. QOL was measured using five standardized self-report measures: the State-Trait Anxiety Scale (SAS), the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), the Mishel Uncertainty in Illness Scale (MUIS), the Symptom Distress Scale (SDS), and the Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12). Baseline data were collected while women were hospitalized following surgery.

Results:

The sample (n=145) included women with avarian cancer (58%) and other cancers metastasized to the avaries and abdomen (42%). Mean scores on the measures were consistent with or higher than previously reported means for similar populations. Women reporting the lowest QOL were more likely to be younger, more educated, and have early stage disease.

Significance of results:

Women who have undergone surgery for ovarian malignancies have psychological needs that are often considered secondary to physical needs. Interventions should include routine screening for distress and referral to appropriate psychological and social services, thereby facilitating quality cancer care.

Keywords

DistressGynecological surgeryOvarianCancer
Type
Original Articles
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 6 , Issue 3 , September 2008 , pp. 239 - 247
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2008

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