Paediatrics (RCH) - Theses

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    The quality of life of young women with a menstrual problem and families attending a hospital-based gynaecological clinic in Melbourne, Australia
    Abdul Ghani, Nur Azurah ( 2010)
    BACKGROUND: Menstrual disorders are very common among young women and have been shown to have negative effect on physical and psychosocial health. Despite high prevalence of menstrual dysfunction in young women, only small percentage seeks medical help. Very few papers have examined health related quality of life (HRQL) in younger population with menstrual problem. AIMS: The aim of the study was to assess young women’s and their parents’ perception on the impact of menstrual problem on the young women’s quality of life and identified factors that have impact on it. It was also aimed to describe the quality of life of parents of young women with menstrual problems and factors influencing their quality of life (QoL). METHOD: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study conducted in Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne between 1st October 2008 till 30th June 2010. Research tools used for young women were PedsQL 4.0 generic module (Teen-report) and Parent Bonding Instrument whereas tools for parents include PedsQL 4.0 generic module (Parent-report), SF12v2 and Kessler Psychological Distress Scale. RESULTS: A hundred and eighty four young women and parents completed self-administered questionnaires. The most common menstrual problems seen in our gynaecological clinic were dysmenorrhoea (38.6%), followed by heavy menstrual bleeding (33.6%), oligomenorrhoea (19.6%) and amenorrhoea (8.2%). The mean overall score was 70.48+16.44 with 42.5% having a score below one standard deviation from the norms. Young women with dysmenorrhoea had the poorest score in physical function whereas those with amenorrhoea had the lowest score in psychosocial function. Higher body mass index, smoking, alcohol drinking, sexual activity, parental anxiety and parental overprotection were associated with poorerscore. Overall, parents rated lower QoL scores than young women themselves in all four domains (physical, emotional, social and school). Parent-child agreements were moderate to good with best agreement in school functioning. Parents’ of young women with menstrual problems reported lower QoL scores than the norm in all domains with worse scores in ‘role emotional’ and ‘mental health’ domain. Parental anxiety and medical illnesses were associated with poorer parental QoL. CONCLUSION: Although menstrual problems are not life threatening, they can pose a significant impact not only on the quality of life of these young women but also their parents. Identification of these impacts might lead to recognition of potential services or education to improve this. Understanding the characteristics that predict QoL may help clinician identify patients who are risk for poor QoL.