| Hysterectomy is one of the most prevalent surgeries for women worldwide (Konnickx, 2004). Although psychological symptoms appeared in a number of the patients with benign gynecological diseases (Sundstrom, 2001, etc.), little has been known about the impact of these psychological features on disease prognosis or improvement. This qualitative study used grounded theory methodology to understand (a) Taiwanese women's experiences of the diseases, (b) their rationale about the etiology of the diseases, and (c) their thoughts about how the psychological factors interact with their physical conditions. Eighteen female participants who were to receive a hysterectomy were recruited for this study. The participants completed the Symptom Check List-90-R (SCL-90R) and received a structured interview on the day before surgery. Three themes were derived from the participants' transcriptions: (a) other-oriented lifestyle, (b) depleted personal resource, and (c) limited coping strategies. The study's findings indicated that women with benign gynecological disorders leading to hysterectomy were stressed by their physical symptoms as well as multiple role expectations. Further studies on how psychosocial stress impacts disease prognosis are needed to develop appropriate psychological interventions for this population. |
