The feeling of life satisfaction in patients after hysterectomy

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate the feeling of life satisfaction in women after hysterectomy. Material and methods: A group of 131 women after hysterectomy was included in the study, patients of the PSPS Jan Boży Hospital in Lublin. 95 of the respondents were treated surgically because of benign gynaecological diseases, hysterectomy was performed in 36 patients because of malignant cancer of genital organs. The time between the end of the treatment and the day of the study was 3 to 12 months. 10 domains of life satisfaction were evaluated, using the questionnaire LISAT-11. Each factor was evaluated using a 1-10 scale, starting with 1-grade which was treated as very unsatisfactory, through grades 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 up to a very satisfactory grade. Statistical analysis was performed with the Chi2 test, the Mann-Whitney U test and the Kruskal-Wallis test. Results: The respondents estimated their feeling of life satisfaction in particular domains in a comparative way. The obtained results can be placed in a range from 4 to 5 points. Relationships with the partner and financial situation were assessed as the worst. Women before 40 years of age declared much higher level of life satisfaction than women over 55 years of age. Fundamental differences in assessing the seven domains (p<0.05) were found between respondents suffering from cancer and the rest of the examined patients, except for contacts with friends and acquaintances, family life and the evaluation of mental health. Conclusions: Hysterectomy determines life satisfaction on an average level, defined as ‘rather satisfactory’ in most domains of life. The type of indication for hysterectomy plays a significant role in the evaluation of the quality of life of women.