KEY TAKEAWAYS
- The study aimed to investigate women’s experiences and expectations of ovarian surgery for an adnexal mass.
- Researchers noted that person-centered care and nurse navigator support can ease stress for women awaiting ovarian surgery.
Diagnosis of an adnexal mass might be a sign of ovarian cancer (OC), with an overall poor prognosis. This study aimed to explore women’s experiences and perceptions of facing ovarian surgery due to an adnexal mass and their expectations for life after surgery.
Sophia Holmlund and the team aimed to assess the effectiveness of support mechanisms and identify strategies to enhance the overall experience of women facing ovarian surgery.
They performed an inclusive analysis through individual in-depth interviews with 15 patients facing ovarian surgery due to an adnexal mass. The interviews were analyzed using qualitative content analysis to gain a comprehensive understanding of the women’s experiences and perceptions.
About the overarching theme, “From symptoms to surgery—a pathway through uncertainty and hope,” 3 categories emerged: I. The road to diagnosis, II. Striving for information and guidance, and III. Balancing emotions of hope and fear. The period between discovering the adnexal mass and surgery was often described as chaotic and difficult to manage.
However, the diagnostic procedures were mostly described as timely and efficient, and participants felt safe and cared for. Person-centered care was considered crucial in this vulnerable situation, with the nurse navigator described as a key person for addressing queries.
While participants expressed overall satisfaction with the information provided by health professionals, some reported a lack of information regarding the surgery’s potential impact on hormonal production and sexuality.
Restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic forced participants to attend healthcare visits alone, and some wished that health professionals had taken more responsibility for informing their relatives. Many participants focused on the positive aspects of the information gained about the adnexal mass and felt that the entire situation provided perspective on what was important in life.
The study concluded that waiting for surgery on a possibly malignant adnexal mass can be very stressful; however, person-centered care and the guidance of a nurse navigator can make the process more manageable.
To improve women’s experience, health professionals should involve relatives more frequently and ensure comprehensive information is provided about potential hormonal loss and sexuality after ovarian surgery.
The study was funded by the Cancer Research Foundation of Northern Sweden (AI).
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39173062/
Holmlund S, Collins E, Lalos A, et al. (2024). “From symptoms to surgery-A pathway through uncertainty and hope: An interview study of women facing ovarian surgery.” PLoS One. 2024;19(8):e0307666. Published 2024 Aug 22. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0307666
