Quality of life Archives - Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2010;32(3):133-138
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032010000300006
PURPOSE: to assess the influence of physiotherapy performed during radiotherapy (RT) on the quality of life (QL) of women under treatment for breast cancer. METHODS: this was a randomized clinical trial conducted on 55 women under RT treatment, 28 of whom were assigned to a group submitted to physiotherapy (PG) and 27 to the control group receiving no PG (CG). The physiotherapy technique used for PG was kinesiotherapy for the upper limbs using 19 exercises actively performed, with a series of ten rhythmic repetitions or stretching movements involving flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, internal and external shoulder rotation, separate or combined. QL was evaluated using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast (FACT-B), at the beginning and at the end of RT and six months after the end of RT. The physiotherapy sessions were started concomitantly with RT, 90 days after surgery, on average. RESULTS: there was no difference between subgroups regarding the following subscales: physical well-being (p=0.8), social/family well-being (p=0.3), functional well-being (p=0.2) and breast subscale (p=0.2) at the three time points assessed. A comparison of the emotional subscale applied at the three evaluations demonstrated a better behavior of PG as compared to CG (p=0.01), with both groups presenting improvement on the breast subscale between the beginning and the end of RT (PG p=0.0004 and CG p=0.003). There was improvement in FACT-B scores at the end of RT in both groups (PG p=0.0006 and CG p=0.003). However, at the sixth month after RT, this improvement was maintained only in PG (p=0,005). QL assessed along time by the FACT B (p=0.004) and the Trial Outcome Index (TOI) (sums of the physical and functional well-being subscales and of the breast subscale) was better for PG (p=0.006). There was no evidence of negative effects associated with the exercises. CONCLUSIONS: the execution of exercises for the upper limbs was beneficial for QL during and six months after RT.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2010;32(3):133-138
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032010000300006
PURPOSE: to assess the influence of physiotherapy performed during radiotherapy (RT) on the quality of life (QL) of women under treatment for breast cancer. METHODS: this was a randomized clinical trial conducted on 55 women under RT treatment, 28 of whom were assigned to a group submitted to physiotherapy (PG) and 27 to the control group receiving no PG (CG). The physiotherapy technique used for PG was kinesiotherapy for the upper limbs using 19 exercises actively performed, with a series of ten rhythmic repetitions or stretching movements involving flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, internal and external shoulder rotation, separate or combined. QL was evaluated using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast (FACT-B), at the beginning and at the end of RT and six months after the end of RT. The physiotherapy sessions were started concomitantly with RT, 90 days after surgery, on average. RESULTS: there was no difference between subgroups regarding the following subscales: physical well-being (p=0.8), social/family well-being (p=0.3), functional well-being (p=0.2) and breast subscale (p=0.2) at the three time points assessed. A comparison of the emotional subscale applied at the three evaluations demonstrated a better behavior of PG as compared to CG (p=0.01), with both groups presenting improvement on the breast subscale between the beginning and the end of RT (PG p=0.0004 and CG p=0.003). There was improvement in FACT-B scores at the end of RT in both groups (PG p=0.0006 and CG p=0.003). However, at the sixth month after RT, this improvement was maintained only in PG (p=0,005). QL assessed along time by the FACT B (p=0.004) and the Trial Outcome Index (TOI) (sums of the physical and functional well-being subscales and of the breast subscale) was better for PG (p=0.006). There was no evidence of negative effects associated with the exercises. CONCLUSIONS: the execution of exercises for the upper limbs was beneficial for QL during and six months after RT.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2009;31(4):196-202
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032009000400007
PURPOSE: to evaluate the quality of life of post-menopause women, users and non-users of hormonal therapy (HT), in a Healthcare Unit in Franca, São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: a clinical transversal study, carried out with 250 post-menopausal women, with ages from 45 to 70 years old, attended to in Healthcare Units, from September 2007 to August 2008. Participants were divided into two groups: HT users (n=70) and non-users (n=180). Women making continuous HT use for at least six months were considered as users. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics have been evaluated. Blatt-Kupperman's menopausal index has been applied to assess climacteric symptoms, and the Women's Health Questionnaire (WHQ), to assess their quality of life. Fisher's exact test or χ2 and Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis's tests have been used for the statistical analysis. RESULTS: no significant difference has been found in the comparison of groups, concerning age, menarche, menopause, parity and body mass index. It has been seen that 67.2% of the women were married, 83.2% had attended primary school and 53.2% were housewives, with no difference between the groups. HT users reported lower frequency of climacteric symptoms (BKMI) with moderate and marked intensity, as compared to non-users (p<0.001). Even though HT users presented lower average score in cognitive deficit (p<0.001), vasomotor symptoms (p=0.04), sleeping problems (p<0.001), attractiveness (p=0.02) from the WHQ, there has been no difference in the total score, as compared to non-users. CONCLUSIONS: post-menopausal women, HT users and non-users, admitted at Healthcare Units, have not presented differences in global quality of life.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2009;31(4):196-202
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032009000400007
PURPOSE: to evaluate the quality of life of post-menopause women, users and non-users of hormonal therapy (HT), in a Healthcare Unit in Franca, São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: a clinical transversal study, carried out with 250 post-menopausal women, with ages from 45 to 70 years old, attended to in Healthcare Units, from September 2007 to August 2008. Participants were divided into two groups: HT users (n=70) and non-users (n=180). Women making continuous HT use for at least six months were considered as users. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics have been evaluated. Blatt-Kupperman's menopausal index has been applied to assess climacteric symptoms, and the Women's Health Questionnaire (WHQ), to assess their quality of life. Fisher's exact test or χ2 and Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis's tests have been used for the statistical analysis. RESULTS: no significant difference has been found in the comparison of groups, concerning age, menarche, menopause, parity and body mass index. It has been seen that 67.2% of the women were married, 83.2% had attended primary school and 53.2% were housewives, with no difference between the groups. HT users reported lower frequency of climacteric symptoms (BKMI) with moderate and marked intensity, as compared to non-users (p<0.001). Even though HT users presented lower average score in cognitive deficit (p<0.001), vasomotor symptoms (p=0.04), sleeping problems (p<0.001), attractiveness (p=0.02) from the WHQ, there has been no difference in the total score, as compared to non-users. CONCLUSIONS: post-menopausal women, HT users and non-users, admitted at Healthcare Units, have not presented differences in global quality of life.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2009;31(2):61-67
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032009000200003
PURPOSE: to evaluate the quality of life and sexuality features of women with breast cancer, according to the type of surgery they underwent and their sociodemographic characteristics. METHODS: transversal study with 110 women treated for breast cancer, for at least one year in the Centro de Atenção Integral à Saúde da Mulher of UNICAMP. The quality of life was assessed by the WHOQOL-bref questionnaire, and the issues on sexuality, by a specific questionnaire in which Cronbach's Alpha coefficient was used to validate the concordance of responses (alpha=0.72) and the technique of factor analysis, with the criterion of self value and variance maximum rotation, resulting in two components: intrinsic or intimacy ( how the woman sees herself sexually) and extrinsic or attractiveness (how the woman believes the others see her sexually). Sociodemographic variables have been assessed according to the WHO questionnaire, and the sexuality components, through the Kruskal-Wallis followed by the Mann-Whitney's test and Spearman correlation test. RESULTS: age, schooling, type of surgery and lapse of time from the surgery did not influence the quality of life concerning physical, environmental, and psychological aspects, as well as the social relationships. Women with a stable marital relationship got higher scores in the psychological area (p=0.04) and in the area of social relationships (p=0.02). Higher socioeconomic level influenced the quality of life concerning physical appearance (p=0.01) and environment (p=0.002). Regarding the sexuality, age had influence in the extrinsic component (p=0.0158). Women with a stable marital relationship had higher scores of quality of life in both components of sexuality. Higher schooling influenced in a positive way the intrinsic factor. Women submitted to quadrantectomy or mastectomy with immediate breast reconstruction showed higher scores relating to attractiveness in comparison to mastectomized women without reconstruction. CONCLUSIONS: better socioeconomic level and better schooling, stable marital relationship and surgery with breast conservation are linked to better rates of quality of life, including sexuality.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2009;31(2):61-67
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032009000200003
PURPOSE: to evaluate the quality of life and sexuality features of women with breast cancer, according to the type of surgery they underwent and their sociodemographic characteristics. METHODS: transversal study with 110 women treated for breast cancer, for at least one year in the Centro de Atenção Integral à Saúde da Mulher of UNICAMP. The quality of life was assessed by the WHOQOL-bref questionnaire, and the issues on sexuality, by a specific questionnaire in which Cronbach's Alpha coefficient was used to validate the concordance of responses (alpha=0.72) and the technique of factor analysis, with the criterion of self value and variance maximum rotation, resulting in two components: intrinsic or intimacy ( how the woman sees herself sexually) and extrinsic or attractiveness (how the woman believes the others see her sexually). Sociodemographic variables have been assessed according to the WHO questionnaire, and the sexuality components, through the Kruskal-Wallis followed by the Mann-Whitney's test and Spearman correlation test. RESULTS: age, schooling, type of surgery and lapse of time from the surgery did not influence the quality of life concerning physical, environmental, and psychological aspects, as well as the social relationships. Women with a stable marital relationship got higher scores in the psychological area (p=0.04) and in the area of social relationships (p=0.02). Higher socioeconomic level influenced the quality of life concerning physical appearance (p=0.01) and environment (p=0.002). Regarding the sexuality, age had influence in the extrinsic component (p=0.0158). Women with a stable marital relationship had higher scores of quality of life in both components of sexuality. Higher schooling influenced in a positive way the intrinsic factor. Women submitted to quadrantectomy or mastectomy with immediate breast reconstruction showed higher scores relating to attractiveness in comparison to mastectomized women without reconstruction. CONCLUSIONS: better socioeconomic level and better schooling, stable marital relationship and surgery with breast conservation are linked to better rates of quality of life, including sexuality.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2008;30(8):384-392
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032008000800003
PURPOSE: the objective of the present study was the development of the Brazilian Portuguese version of Endometriosis Health Profile Questionnaire (EHP-30), the cross-cultural adaptation to Brazil and the evaluation of EHP-30 Portuguese psychometric measures in a Brazilian sample. METHODS: the original instrument in English was translated into Portuguese following international guidelines, going through all stages of translation, back-translation and comparison of the versions for cross-cultural adaptation, face and content validity. A sample of 54 patients with endometriosis was used for internal consistency analyses using the Cronbach alpha. Test-retest reliability was evaluated through the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). In order to evaluate the convergent construct validity, the correlation between EHP-30 Portuguese and WHOQOL-Bref and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was tested. RESULTS: internal consistency presented alpha values of 0.8 to 0.9 suggesting homogeneity between questions. The test-retest reliability presented ICC of 0.8 to 0.9 showing instrument stability. In the construct validation, strong correlations were demonstrated of the EHP-30 Portuguese self-image scale with physical (-0.6) and psychological domains (-0.6) of WHOQOL-Bref, and EHP-30 Portuguese social support scale with BDI (0.5), confirming good correlation with other quality of life evaluation instruments. CONCLUSIONS: the EHP-30 Portuguese was found to be an easy, quickly applied instrument, and well-accepted by the patients. It presented good psychometric properties with appropriate reliability measures (internal consistency and test-retest reliability) and construct validity. These results show that EHP-30 Portuguese is an adequate instrument for quality of life evaluation in Brazilian women with endometriosis, both in clinical and research setting.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2008;30(8):384-392
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032008000800003
PURPOSE: the objective of the present study was the development of the Brazilian Portuguese version of Endometriosis Health Profile Questionnaire (EHP-30), the cross-cultural adaptation to Brazil and the evaluation of EHP-30 Portuguese psychometric measures in a Brazilian sample. METHODS: the original instrument in English was translated into Portuguese following international guidelines, going through all stages of translation, back-translation and comparison of the versions for cross-cultural adaptation, face and content validity. A sample of 54 patients with endometriosis was used for internal consistency analyses using the Cronbach alpha. Test-retest reliability was evaluated through the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). In order to evaluate the convergent construct validity, the correlation between EHP-30 Portuguese and WHOQOL-Bref and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was tested. RESULTS: internal consistency presented alpha values of 0.8 to 0.9 suggesting homogeneity between questions. The test-retest reliability presented ICC of 0.8 to 0.9 showing instrument stability. In the construct validation, strong correlations were demonstrated of the EHP-30 Portuguese self-image scale with physical (-0.6) and psychological domains (-0.6) of WHOQOL-Bref, and EHP-30 Portuguese social support scale with BDI (0.5), confirming good correlation with other quality of life evaluation instruments. CONCLUSIONS: the EHP-30 Portuguese was found to be an easy, quickly applied instrument, and well-accepted by the patients. It presented good psychometric properties with appropriate reliability measures (internal consistency and test-retest reliability) and construct validity. These results show that EHP-30 Portuguese is an adequate instrument for quality of life evaluation in Brazilian women with endometriosis, both in clinical and research setting.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2008;30(3):113-120
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032008005000001
PURPOSE: to evaluate quality of life of climacteric women attended at a school hospital in Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil, adopting the Medical Outcome Study 36-item Short Form Health Survey (MOS SF-36 Health Survey) and the Women's Health Questionnaire (WHQ), as well as the modified Blatt-Kupperman index. METHODS: according to a descriptive, transversal study, 233 women, assisted from February to June 2006, were evaluated. Within a convenience sample, the inclusion criteria were age from 40 to 65 years old and agreement in participating of the research, excluding previous history of bilateral oophorectomy, hormonal therapy in the last semester and uncontrolled illnesses. The sample size was calculated admitting a prevalence of climacteric symptoms of 4% and a precision of 2.5%. The variables were: general health and physical and mental components based on the MOS SF-36 Health Survey; quality of health based on the WHQ and climacteric symptoms according to the modified Blatt-Kupperman index. Data were analyzed by the Statistical Package for Social Sciences, version 13.0 software. RESULTS: the quality of life was classified as bad. Based on the MOS SF-36 Health Survey, there was more damage in the mental component (18.53 versus 27.77% for physical components), higher losses in social functions (80.28%) and limitations for emotional problems (78.61%). According to WHQ, there were limitations due to sleep disturbances (69.77%), somatic (69.15%) and vasomotor symptoms (68.80%), considering regular sexual function and menstrual symptoms. Estrogenic deficiency symptoms were found in 53% of the women. The increase of hypoestrogenism symptoms were followed by worsening of general and menopausal health. CONCLUSIONS: it seemed reasonable to assume that menopause, for the researched women, was really configured as a biopsychosocial event, more than organic, derived predominantly from estrogenic deficiency.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2008;30(3):113-120
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032008005000001
PURPOSE: to evaluate quality of life of climacteric women attended at a school hospital in Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil, adopting the Medical Outcome Study 36-item Short Form Health Survey (MOS SF-36 Health Survey) and the Women's Health Questionnaire (WHQ), as well as the modified Blatt-Kupperman index. METHODS: according to a descriptive, transversal study, 233 women, assisted from February to June 2006, were evaluated. Within a convenience sample, the inclusion criteria were age from 40 to 65 years old and agreement in participating of the research, excluding previous history of bilateral oophorectomy, hormonal therapy in the last semester and uncontrolled illnesses. The sample size was calculated admitting a prevalence of climacteric symptoms of 4% and a precision of 2.5%. The variables were: general health and physical and mental components based on the MOS SF-36 Health Survey; quality of health based on the WHQ and climacteric symptoms according to the modified Blatt-Kupperman index. Data were analyzed by the Statistical Package for Social Sciences, version 13.0 software. RESULTS: the quality of life was classified as bad. Based on the MOS SF-36 Health Survey, there was more damage in the mental component (18.53 versus 27.77% for physical components), higher losses in social functions (80.28%) and limitations for emotional problems (78.61%). According to WHQ, there were limitations due to sleep disturbances (69.77%), somatic (69.15%) and vasomotor symptoms (68.80%), considering regular sexual function and menstrual symptoms. Estrogenic deficiency symptoms were found in 53% of the women. The increase of hypoestrogenism symptoms were followed by worsening of general and menopausal health. CONCLUSIONS: it seemed reasonable to assume that menopause, for the researched women, was really configured as a biopsychosocial event, more than organic, derived predominantly from estrogenic deficiency.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2007;29(5):248-252
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032007000500005
PURPOSE: to analyze the isoflavone and estrogen effects on the postmenopausal quality of life. METHODS: this is a randomized and double-blind study with 79 postmenopausal patients, 12 months of amenorrhea, 40 years old or more and body mass index (BMI) above 30 kg/m². The participants were randomly divided into two treatment groups: GECP received orally two capsules, every 12 hours, one contained 0.625 mg conjugated equine estrogen and another placebo (n=33); GECS received two capsules of 150 mg extract of soy, with 60 mg isoflavone (n=32). Both treatments were administered for six months. The Quality Menopause Specific Questionnaire of Life was applied before and after one, three and six months of treatment. The parameters of gynecological cancer risk were evaluated. ANOVA and the Tukey test were used for data analysis. RESULTS: there was a reduction in the values of the vasomotor parameters after six months of treatment, 1.6±0.8 and 2.4±1.6, compared to before therapy, 4.0±2.2 and 4.2±2.3 in GECP and GECS, respectively. The psychological aspects showed reduction in values after six months of therapy, 2.5±1.2 and 2.9±1.4, compared to before treatment, 3.6±1.6 and 4.1±1.9 in GECP and GECS, respectively. Similar results were obtained on the physical aspects and in the sexual symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: isoflavones may positively act on life quality of postmenopausal women. This effect was similar to conjugated equine estrogen.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2007;29(5):248-252
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032007000500005
PURPOSE: to analyze the isoflavone and estrogen effects on the postmenopausal quality of life. METHODS: this is a randomized and double-blind study with 79 postmenopausal patients, 12 months of amenorrhea, 40 years old or more and body mass index (BMI) above 30 kg/m². The participants were randomly divided into two treatment groups: GECP received orally two capsules, every 12 hours, one contained 0.625 mg conjugated equine estrogen and another placebo (n=33); GECS received two capsules of 150 mg extract of soy, with 60 mg isoflavone (n=32). Both treatments were administered for six months. The Quality Menopause Specific Questionnaire of Life was applied before and after one, three and six months of treatment. The parameters of gynecological cancer risk were evaluated. ANOVA and the Tukey test were used for data analysis. RESULTS: there was a reduction in the values of the vasomotor parameters after six months of treatment, 1.6±0.8 and 2.4±1.6, compared to before therapy, 4.0±2.2 and 4.2±2.3 in GECP and GECS, respectively. The psychological aspects showed reduction in values after six months of therapy, 2.5±1.2 and 2.9±1.4, compared to before treatment, 3.6±1.6 and 4.1±1.9 in GECP and GECS, respectively. Similar results were obtained on the physical aspects and in the sexual symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: isoflavones may positively act on life quality of postmenopausal women. This effect was similar to conjugated equine estrogen.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2007;29(3):134-140
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032007000300004
PURPOSE: to compare women's quality of life (QoL) before and after physical therapy treatment for stress urinary incontinence (SUI). METHODS: an uncontrolled clinical trial of 26 women, who had mainly complaints of SUI. Post-menopausal women with overactive bladder, cystocele >grade II and previous surgical/conservative treatments were excluded from the study. The physiotherapy treatment relied on 12 individual pelvic floor exercises assisted by electromyographyc-biofeedback sessions. A total of 200 contractions were carried out, divided in phasic (quick) and tonic (slow). The tool used to evaluate QoL was the King's Health Questionnaire (KHQ), before and after the treatment. RESULTS: there was a decrease in the urinary symptoms, particularly in urinary frequency, nocturia, urgency and urinary incontinence. Regarding the QoL, there was a significant improvement in the following domain scores: general health perception (49.0±24.0 versus 26.9±15.7; p=0.0015), incontinence impact (78.2±28.2 versus 32.1±30.5; p=0.001), activity limitation (75.0±28.2 versus 13.5±22.6; p<0.001), physical limitation (72.4±29.4 versus 15.4±24.5; p<0.001), social limitations (38.3±28.6 versus 6.4±14.5; p<0.001), emotions (59.0±33.8 versus 14.1±24.7; p=0.0001, sleep/energy (34.0±23.8 versus 6.4±16.4; p=0.001) and severity measures (66.9±19.6 versus 22.3±24.2; p<0.001), except for personal relationships (60.5±33.9 versus 41.7±16.7; p=0.0679). CONCLUSIONS: there was an improvement in several aspects of women's QoL treated by physiotherapy, when evaluated with a specific tool, the KHQ.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2007;29(3):134-140
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032007000300004
PURPOSE: to compare women's quality of life (QoL) before and after physical therapy treatment for stress urinary incontinence (SUI). METHODS: an uncontrolled clinical trial of 26 women, who had mainly complaints of SUI. Post-menopausal women with overactive bladder, cystocele >grade II and previous surgical/conservative treatments were excluded from the study. The physiotherapy treatment relied on 12 individual pelvic floor exercises assisted by electromyographyc-biofeedback sessions. A total of 200 contractions were carried out, divided in phasic (quick) and tonic (slow). The tool used to evaluate QoL was the King's Health Questionnaire (KHQ), before and after the treatment. RESULTS: there was a decrease in the urinary symptoms, particularly in urinary frequency, nocturia, urgency and urinary incontinence. Regarding the QoL, there was a significant improvement in the following domain scores: general health perception (49.0±24.0 versus 26.9±15.7; p=0.0015), incontinence impact (78.2±28.2 versus 32.1±30.5; p=0.001), activity limitation (75.0±28.2 versus 13.5±22.6; p<0.001), physical limitation (72.4±29.4 versus 15.4±24.5; p<0.001), social limitations (38.3±28.6 versus 6.4±14.5; p<0.001), emotions (59.0±33.8 versus 14.1±24.7; p=0.0001, sleep/energy (34.0±23.8 versus 6.4±16.4; p=0.001) and severity measures (66.9±19.6 versus 22.3±24.2; p<0.001), except for personal relationships (60.5±33.9 versus 41.7±16.7; p=0.0679). CONCLUSIONS: there was an improvement in several aspects of women's QoL treated by physiotherapy, when evaluated with a specific tool, the KHQ.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2007;29(2):85-90
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032007000200005
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2007;29(2):85-90
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032007000200005