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Brief report: Total pelvic exenteration‐A retrospective clinical needs assessment
Author(s) -
Carter Jeanne,
Chi Dennis S.,
AbuRustum Nadeem,
Brown Carol L.,
McCreath Wayne,
Barakat Richard R.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
psycho‐oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.41
H-Index - 137
eISSN - 1099-1611
pISSN - 1057-9249
DOI - 10.1002/pon.766
Subject(s) - pelvic exenteration , medicine , mood , human sexuality , general surgery , retrospective cohort study , surgery , psychiatry , gender studies , sociology
This clinical needs assessment retrospectively identified 11 women with a history of gynecologic cancer who had undergone pelvic exenteration within the last 4 years, of whom six were available for interview. All patients agreed to telephone interviews, which lasted approximately 45–60 min and addressed their surgical experience. Seven themes emerged from the interviews: concerns about recovery, complications, ostomies, social support, sexuality, disclosure, and fear. The findings of our needs assessment concur with the existing literature noting decreased sexual interest/activity and difficulties with body image. An improvement in mood and an increase in activities over time postoperatively were noted. We also found reluctance by participants to disclose information about their exenterative procedure. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.