Psychosocial rehabilitation of gynecologic oncology patients

Abstract

This investigation studied the effectiveness of in-hospital, individual counseling on the psychosocial adjustment of patients with newly diagnosed gynecologic malignancies. Levels of psychologic distress, sexual functioning, and return to employment were assessed at 3, 6, and 12 months after counseling. The counseled patients were compared with a similar control group that was assessed but not counseled. In this study, levels of psychologic distress reported by cancer patients were similar to those reported in normal populations. However, at 3 months post-treatment, counseled cancer patients reported significantly less confusion and contradiction within areas of self-perception than did the noncounseled patients. Return to employment and sexual activities were both shown to be adversely affected by the diagnosis and treatment of genital cancer. Results suggested that counseling had a positive effect in enhancing return to normal vocational and sexual functions during the 1st year after treatment.