Health care informational challenges for women diagnosed with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia: a qualitative study
Abstract Background Internationally, women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) lack knowledge about their disease, which limits their ability to take responsibility for self-care and creates negative psychosocial effects, including marital problems. Normally, screening is performed in prim...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2019-09-01
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| Series: | BMC Women's Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12905-019-0811-5 |
| _version_ | 1819013088540622848 |
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| author | Carla Freijomil-Vázquez Denise Gastaldo Carmen Coronado María-Jesús Movilla-Fernández |
| author_facet | Carla Freijomil-Vázquez Denise Gastaldo Carmen Coronado María-Jesús Movilla-Fernández |
| author_sort | Carla Freijomil-Vázquez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Internationally, women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) lack knowledge about their disease, which limits their ability to take responsibility for self-care and creates negative psychosocial effects, including marital problems. Normally, screening is performed in primary care, and in case of abnormal results, the patient is referred to specialized care for follow-up and treatment. Given the lack of international literature regarding patients’ experiences in primary and specialized healthcare, our study aims to: (a) investigate how women with CIN perceive the communication and management of information by healthcare providers at different moments of their healthcare and (b) identify these women’s informational needs. Methods A qualitative exploratory study was carried out in a gynecology unit of a public hospital of the Galician Health Care Service (Spain). Participants were selected through purposive sampling. The sample consisted of 21 women aged 21 to 52 years old with a confirmed diagnosis of CIN. Semistructured interviews were recorded and transcribed. A thematic analysis was carried out, including triangulation of researchers for analysis verification. Results Two analytical themes were identified. The first was communication gaps in the diagnosis and management of information in primary and specialized healthcare. These gaps occurred in the following moments of the healthcare process: (a) cervical cancer screening in primary care, (b) waiting time until referral to specialized care, (c) first consultation in specialized care, and (d) after consultation in specialized care. The second theme was participants’ unmatched informational needs. The doubts and informational needs of women during their healthcare process related to the following subthemes: (a) HPV transmission, (b) HPV infection symptoms and consequences, and (c) CIN treatment and follow-up. Conclusions This study shows that women who have a diagnosis of CIN experience important healthcare informational challenges when accessing primary and specialized care that have several implications for their wellbeing. The information given is limited, which makes it difficult for women to understand and participate in the decision making regarding the prevention and treatment of CIN. Service coordination among different levels of care and the availability of educational materials at any given time would improve the patients’ healthcare experience. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T01:54:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1231c882bddc476b877fe271da2e2651 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6874 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T01:54:23Z |
| publishDate | 2019-09-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Women's Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-1231c882bddc476b877fe271da2e26512022-12-21T19:19:48ZengBMCBMC Women's Health1472-68742019-09-0119111010.1186/s12905-019-0811-5Health care informational challenges for women diagnosed with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia: a qualitative studyCarla Freijomil-Vázquez0Denise Gastaldo1Carmen Coronado2María-Jesús Movilla-Fernández3Facultade de Enfermaría e Podoloxía, Universidade da CoruñaBloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of TorontoFacultade de Enfermaría e Podoloxía, Universidade da CoruñaFacultade de Enfermaría e Podoloxía, Universidade da CoruñaAbstract Background Internationally, women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) lack knowledge about their disease, which limits their ability to take responsibility for self-care and creates negative psychosocial effects, including marital problems. Normally, screening is performed in primary care, and in case of abnormal results, the patient is referred to specialized care for follow-up and treatment. Given the lack of international literature regarding patients’ experiences in primary and specialized healthcare, our study aims to: (a) investigate how women with CIN perceive the communication and management of information by healthcare providers at different moments of their healthcare and (b) identify these women’s informational needs. Methods A qualitative exploratory study was carried out in a gynecology unit of a public hospital of the Galician Health Care Service (Spain). Participants were selected through purposive sampling. The sample consisted of 21 women aged 21 to 52 years old with a confirmed diagnosis of CIN. Semistructured interviews were recorded and transcribed. A thematic analysis was carried out, including triangulation of researchers for analysis verification. Results Two analytical themes were identified. The first was communication gaps in the diagnosis and management of information in primary and specialized healthcare. These gaps occurred in the following moments of the healthcare process: (a) cervical cancer screening in primary care, (b) waiting time until referral to specialized care, (c) first consultation in specialized care, and (d) after consultation in specialized care. The second theme was participants’ unmatched informational needs. The doubts and informational needs of women during their healthcare process related to the following subthemes: (a) HPV transmission, (b) HPV infection symptoms and consequences, and (c) CIN treatment and follow-up. Conclusions This study shows that women who have a diagnosis of CIN experience important healthcare informational challenges when accessing primary and specialized care that have several implications for their wellbeing. The information given is limited, which makes it difficult for women to understand and participate in the decision making regarding the prevention and treatment of CIN. Service coordination among different levels of care and the availability of educational materials at any given time would improve the patients’ healthcare experience.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12905-019-0811-5Cervical intraepithelial neoplasiaPapillomavirus infectionsHealth educationPatient carePatient satisfactionPatient rights |
| spellingShingle | Carla Freijomil-Vázquez Denise Gastaldo Carmen Coronado María-Jesús Movilla-Fernández Health care informational challenges for women diagnosed with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia: a qualitative study BMC Women's Health Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia Papillomavirus infections Health education Patient care Patient satisfaction Patient rights |
| title | Health care informational challenges for women diagnosed with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia: a qualitative study |
| title_full | Health care informational challenges for women diagnosed with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia: a qualitative study |
| title_fullStr | Health care informational challenges for women diagnosed with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia: a qualitative study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Health care informational challenges for women diagnosed with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia: a qualitative study |
| title_short | Health care informational challenges for women diagnosed with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia: a qualitative study |
| title_sort | health care informational challenges for women diagnosed with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia a qualitative study |
| topic | Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia Papillomavirus infections Health education Patient care Patient satisfaction Patient rights |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12905-019-0811-5 |
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