Evaluation of hopelessness in patients with endometriosis

Abstract

Purpose

To explore the prevalence of hopelessness in patients diagnosed with endometriosis and how it may influence their relationships.

Material and methods

Prospective–descriptive study among patients with a clinical and/or anatomopathological diagnosis of endometriosis. Demographic data (age, religion, educational level, marital status, occupation, etc.) and pain data have been processed. Pain associated with endometriosis has been evaluated with an analogue scale of pain. The Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS) was used to determine the level of hopelessness. The results have been classified into 0–3 normal; 4–8 mild; 9–14 moderate and 15–20 severe. SPSS Statistics 26 has been used and the statistical significance has been stipulated at p < 0.05.

Results

One hundred and ten patients have been recruited with an average age of 39.8 ± 7.09 years. The average on the Beck Hopelessness Scale is 5.08 with a SD 3.14. In our sample, we obtained that 38.2% of women experienced some level of hopelessness at the time the questionnaire was completed (mild = 28.2%, moderate = 9.1%, severe = 0.9%). We found a significant relation between hopelessness and low income but not with regard to education, employment status or marital status.

Regarding the pain experienced and its relation with hopelessness, we found that it was significantly connected to pain during urination and dyspareunia and not to chronic pelvic pain dysmenorrhea and dyschezia.

Conclusion

Four out of ten patients with endometriosis experience hopelessness, mostly mildly. This hopelessness is influenced by demographic factors such as income level and also pain, specifically pain during intercourse and during urination.