Sevgi Özkan

Predictors of fertility quality of life (FertiQoL) in infertile women: analysis of confounding factors

OBJECTIVE Infertility may adversely influence quality of life (QoL). The aim of this study was to compare QoL in women with primary and secondary infertility, and identify factors associated with poor and good QoL. STUDY DESIGN Quality of life was measured using the FertiQoL tool in 273 patients attending an infertility clinic, and demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients were recorded. Patients with primary and secondary infertility were compared for QoL subscales, and other confounding factors were investigated using multiple regression analysis. RESULTS Women with secondary infertility obtained higher scores in emotional, mind/body, and social domains of the core subscale, tolerability domain of the treatment subscale, and total QoL (p<0.05). Women desiring psychological support showed lower scores in all domains except environment. Prolonged duration of infertility was associated with lower scores of mind/body, social, tolerability domains and total QoL score (p<0.05). Multiple regression analysis showed that the status of education and secondary infertility had a positive impact, whereas prolonged duration of infertility and desire for psychological support had a negative impact on total QoL scores. CONCLUSION QoL scores were better in patients with secondary infertility and higher educational status, whereas scores were negatively affected by prolonged duration of infertility and desire for psychological support.

Quality of life and sexual function of women with urinary incontinence.

AIM The aim of this study was to examine the urinary incontinence (UI) types on the sexual function and quality of life (QOL) of women with UI and the correlation between sexual function and QOL. METHODS The sample for this descriptive study was comprised of 122 women who presented to obstetrics and gynecology and urology outpatient clinics at university hospitals in Denizli and Izmir, Turkey, who had UI, who were sexually active, who volunteered to participate in the study, and who were chosen by a convenience sampling method. A sociodemographic data collection form, the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), and the Incontinence Quality of Life (I-QOL) questionnaire were used for data collection in the study. RESULTS The mixed type of incontinence had an effect on the womens quality of life, mixed and stress incontinence affected the FSFIs pain subscale, and the total sexual functioning score was lower for the women with mixed incontinence. Even though the correlation values were low, it was clear that there was a positive correlation between sexual function and quality of life. CONCLUSIONS Among the incontinence types, a significant difference was determined by the FSFI and I-QOL. Urinary incontinence seems to be the predictor of sexual function and quality of life. As a result, a comprehensive assessment of patients with UI is recommended because this condition has a negative influence on their sexual function and quality of life.

Factors affecting responsiveness to hepatitis B immunization in dialysis patients

BackgroundHepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections are widespread health problems all over the world and have high morbidity and mortality. Hemodialysis patients are more frequently exposed to these viruses as they have poor immune system and frequently undergo parenteral interventions. The vaccination against HBV prevents infection and it has been recommended for the prevention of HBV infection in all susceptible dialysis patients. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of HBV and HCV infections and analyzed the factors affecting inadequate response to HBV vaccine in dialysis patients.MethodsThe data for 584 dialysis patients that were followed up at seven dialysis centers were analyzed. The patients received four doses of 40 μg recombinant hepatitis B vaccine at 0, 1, 2, and 6 months and were tested for anti-HBs titer after one month of completion of vaccination. If patients showed a titer of anti-HBs <10 IU/mL, an additional 40 μg in four vaccine doses was administered immediately and they were retested for the anti-HBs following the same schedule. The patients were divided into two groups: responders and non-responders.ResultsHBsAg and anti-HCV seroprevalence was 3.4% and 10.3%, respectively. After vaccination schedule, 264 (83.5%) patients had antibody response to HBV vaccine and 52 (16.5%) had no response. Hepatitis B vaccine unresponsiveness is more common in the patients with hepatitis C positivity (p = 0.011), BMI >30 (p = 0.019), over the age of 65 years (p = 0.009), and duration of dialysis treatment >5 years (p = 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference between gender, causes of renal disease, erythropoietin treatment, and the type of dialysis.ConclusionHepatitis C infection, obesity, being elderly, and having long hemodialysis period reduced the hepatitis B vaccination response in hemodialysis patients.

Evaluation of confounding factors interfering with sexual function in women with minimal pelvic organ prolapse

To evaluate the effects of confounding factors on sexual function in women with minimal pelvic organ prolapse (POP).

Evaluation of Quality of Life of Breast Cancer Patient Next-of-kin in Turkey

INTRODUCTION Quality of life (QoL) issues are of importance in relatives of women with breast cancer (BC)as caregivers in neglecting their own needs due to care of a patient and also as women regarding the potential risk of themselves developing BC. The objectives in the present study were to compare the QoL of female relatives of women in treatment for breast cancer. To date, no study had examined multi-dimensional QoL in accompanying people as compared them into two groups of female relatives whose first degree and second degree. METHODS QoL of female relatives was assessed using the Quality of Life-Family Version (QOL-FV) scale. Relationships between socio-demographic characteristics and QoL scores were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal Wallis and Crosstabs tests. RESULTS The mean age of the female relatives was 37.6 years, and nearly 48% had a university education. It was found that first degree relatives had worse QoL in all domains except physical well- being than second degree relatives. CONCLUSION This study showed that being female relatives of BC, especially first-degree, affect QoL negatively. Health care providers are of an important role in the stage of information related to genetic influence of BC.

Effect of IVF failure on quality of life and emotional status in infertile couples

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of a previous IVF failure on the quality of life and emotional distress, in couples undergoing IVF treatment. Experiencing IVF failure might cause differences on the anxiety-depression and quality of life scores of the couples, compared to the ones who were undergoing IVF treatment for the first time. STUDY DESIGN This study included 64 couples who had previously experienced at least one IVF failure (Group 1) and 56 couples without history of IVF failure (Group 2) in a private Assisted Reproductive Center, Istanbul, Turkey. A sociodemographic data form, the FertiQoL International and Hospital Anxiety (HAD-A) and Depression scale (HAD-D) for evaluating the status of distress, were administered for the study. RESULT(S) FertiQoL scores were compared between the groups, the environment scale of the quality of life in treatment section was found to be significantly higher in Group 1 compared with Group 2 (p=0.009). The HAD-A and HAD-D scores did not differ significantly between the groups. Group-variables were investigated using multilevel analysis, the infertility duration and income level were found to have an effect on the subscales of quality of life (p=0.009 and p=0.001 respectively) in Group 2. Depression scores were higher in couples with infertility duration of below five years in Group 1 and Group 2 compared to couples with infertility duration of five years or above (MANOVA analysis). The level of education was found to affect the scores of HAD-D in Group 2, but not in Group 1 (p=0.011). The score of HAD-D was significantly affected by the family type only in Group 2 (p=0.009); the depression score of the couples living with a nuclear family was found to be higher compared with the couples living in a traditional family (p=0.021). CONCLUSION(S) Fertility-specific quality of life scores reveals better results regarding the orientation to the treatment environment in the couples with a previous IVF failure, compared to first IVF cycle couples. Treatment failure does not elevate the level of anxiety, while the effect on depression scores changes according to duration of infertility.

Validity and reliability of inventory Functional Status Antepartum Period

Purpose:In this study, we planned to measure the validity and reliability of the Inventory of Functional StatusAntepartum Period (IFSAP) for Turkish women. Materials and methods: The study was carried out on women registered at 21 Health Clinics associated with The Denizli Health Department. A total of 184 women from three clinics with different socioeconomic levels were used in the study. The Inventory of Functional Status Antepartum Period and a questionnaire about the sociodemographic characteristics of the women were used to obtain data. Results:Internal construct reliability using average correlations for the subscale item to subscale total scores ranged from 0.50 to 0.64. Subscale to total IFS-AP score correlations ranged from 0.20 to 0.98. Testretest reliability coefficients ranged from 0.73 to 0.98 and the total IFS-F score was 0.99. Construct validity was accomplished by examining the subscale correlations, which ranged from -0.03 to 0.95. Conclusion:The Inventory of Functional Status Antepartum Period is both a valid and a reliable test for the Turkish society. Pam Med J 2014;7(2):125-130

Psychometric Analysis of the Inventory of Functional Status—Cancer (IFS-CA) in Turkish Women

The aim of this study was to test the reliability and validity of the Turkish version of the Inventory of Functional Status— Cancer (IFS-CA). The questionnaire was composed of four subscales that measured to what extent a woman maintained her usual household and family, social and community, personal care, and occupational activities. Internal consistency reliability using average correlations for the subscale item to subscale total scores ranged from .21 to .97. Construct validity was accomplished by examination of subscale correlations, which ranged from —.10 to .70. The Turkish version of the IFS-CA is found to be psychometrically reliable and valid.