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Strategies required to improve the management of chronic vulvar discomfort in Australia
Author(s) -
Wines Nina
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.734
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1479-828X
pISSN - 0004-8666
DOI - 10.1111/j.0004-8666.2002.00081.x
Subject(s) - vulvodynia , medicine , chronic pain , vulvar diseases , patient satisfaction , physical therapy , family medicine , pelvic pain , vulva , nursing , dermatology , surgery
SUMMARY Objective To investigate factors required to improve the management of vulvar pain from a patient perspective. Sample and setting Sixty patients in four different specialised vulvar clinics. Methods Women with chronic vulvar pain were asked to complete a questionnaire whilst waiting for specialist consultation by either a dermatologist, sexual health physican, psychologist or physiotherapist. Results The average length of time patients had vulvar pain was 6.03 years, with a mean of 5.83 practitioners seen. Twenty‐seven per cent indicated that increased awareness of vulvodynia was required by gynaecologists and 74% suggested that increased general practitioner awareness was necessary to improve care. Accurate diagnosis, and understanding lifestyle implications were key elements of patient satisfaction, considered more important than any available treatment modality. Conclusions Current services and skilled practitioners available for the management of chronic vulvar pain or vulvo dynia in Australia do not reflect the estimated prevalence of this condition. From this study it was concluded that the three most important factors required to improve quality of care in order of importance were increased practitioner awareness, research and the setting up of more specialized multi‐disciplinary clinics.