Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, UK.
J Low Genit Tract Dis. 2013 Apr;17(2):117-24. doi: 10.1097/LGT.0b013e3182652450.
Chronic vulval skin conditions are known to cause a significant reduction in the quality of life. Validated scales exist to measure the disease impact of general dermatologic conditions; however, none have been specifically derived to assess vulval disease. This study aimed to identify what symptoms and aspects of their lives are important for women with vulval skin conditions and to assess their usefulness in developing an assessment measure for monitoring disease activity and quality of life in women with vulval skin conditions.
Participants were female patients attending a specialist vulval dermatology clinic at a tertiary referral center. Ten patients with a variety vulval skin conditions were interviewed to gain their experiences of living with a vulval skin condition. Using qualitative semistructured interviews, patients were asked open-ended questions about aspects of their disease that have affected them. These included the following: daily activities and social activities, physical functions, sexual activities, mobility, relationships, and an understanding of their vulval condition. Data was recorded, transcribed, and then analyzed thematically with all aspects regarding quality of life and symptoms identified.
Results are presented according to common themes identified, specifically physical symptoms, body image, the impact of the condition on sexual and physical function, issues affecting daily activities, and the journey traveled when accessing medical care.
This qualitative study adds to the evidence that chronic vulval conditions are distressing and cause significant morbidity. It highlights further the need to devise a validated questionnaire which can be used in clinical practice looking specifically at disease impact and quality of life. It can only enhance the clinical consultation and facilitate discussion which is disease and person specific.
已知慢性外阴皮肤状况会显著降低生活质量。现已有用于衡量一般皮肤科疾病影响的有效量表；然而，尚无专门用于评估外阴疾病的量表。本研究旨在确定哪些症状和生活方面对患有外阴皮肤疾病的女性很重要，并评估其在开发一种评估工具以监测患有外阴皮肤疾病的女性的疾病活动和生活质量方面的有用性。
参与者为在三级转诊中心的专科外阴皮肤科诊所就诊的女性患者。对 10 名患有各种外阴皮肤疾病的患者进行访谈，以了解她们的外阴皮肤疾病的患病体验。通过半结构化的定性访谈，患者被问到有关影响其疾病的各个方面的开放性问题。这些方面包括：日常活动和社会活动、身体机能、性生活、活动能力、人际关系以及对其外阴状况的了解。记录、转录数据，然后根据所有与生活质量和症状相关的方面进行主题分析。
根据确定的常见主题呈现结果，具体包括身体症状、身体形象、疾病对性功能和身体机能的影响、影响日常活动的问题以及在寻求医疗保健时的经历。
这项定性研究进一步证明慢性外阴疾病令人痛苦，并导致严重的发病率。它进一步强调需要设计一种有效的问卷，可在临床实践中用于专门评估疾病影响和生活质量。它只能增强临床咨询并促进针对疾病和个体的讨论。
