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01-09-2019 | Vaginism | Review

Current usage of qualitative research in female pelvic pain: a systematic review

Published in: Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics | Issue 3/2019

Abstract

Purpose

Qualitative research has received growing attention in the multidisciplinary investigation of patients' perceptions about chronic diseases. The purpose of this systematic review was to characterize the usage of qualitative research in women with chronic pelvic pain (CPP).

Methods

We performed a structured search in Web of Science, Pubmed, and EMBASE platforms until June 2019. The search combined the keywords: "pelvic pain", "endometriosis", "dyspareunia", "dysmenorrhea", "vaginismus", "focus groups", "qualitative research", "hermeneutics", "grounded theory", and "women". Qualitative studies on female CPP were included and the main findings combined using thematic synthesis.

Results

We found 1211 citations, of which 52 were included in this review. The majority of included studies were based on phenomenological design. The main method for data collection was semi-structured interviews. Endometriosis was the theme of 23 studies, chronic pelvic pain of eight, dysmenorrhea of eight, dyspareunia of four, interstitial cystitis of two, vaginismus of two, vulvodynia of two, and pelvic inflammatory disease of one study. We found a wide variety of contributions. Among them, the impact of the disease on women's lives was the commonest.

Conclusion

Qualitative research has the potential to reveal and explain several aspects of CPP in women. The medical community may better accept knowledge gained from these studies if the methods are described more transparently in published articles.

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Title: Current usage of qualitative research in female pelvic pain: a systematic review
Publication date: 01-09-2019
Keywords: Vaginism
Cystitis
Dyspareunia
Endometriosis
Cystitis
Vaginism
Published in: Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics / Issue 3/2019
Print ISSN: 0932-0067
Electronic ISSN: 1432-0711
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-019-05212-x

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on sleep in brain health

Springer Medicine

Current usage of qualitative research in female pelvic pain: a systematic review

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on sleep in brain health

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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