Ogden Jane, Bridge Lucy
School of Psychology, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, UK
School of Psychology, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, UK.
BJGP Open. 2022 Sep 28;6(3). doi: 10.3399/BJGPO.2022.0014. Print 2022 Sep.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with wellbeing. Many women report dissatisfaction with the diagnostic process.
This study assessed the impact of aspects of the diagnostic consultation on subsequent wellbeing.
DESIGN & SETTING: A retrospective community survey.
Females with PCOS ( = 147) completed measures of aspects of the diagnostic consultation (consultation satisfaction, language used in terms of framing and focus) and current wellbeing (body esteem, quality of life).
Most diagnoses took place in primary care. The majority showed a medium degree of satisfaction with the consultation. Most diagnoses were framed using a neutral term 'raised' but many used the more judgemental term 'abnormal'. The majority focused on taking oral contraception and weight management. Poorer body esteem (body dissatisfaction and dieting behaviour) and poorer quality of life (self-identity, concerns about fertility, physical health, hirsutism, and overall quality of life) were predicted by lower communication comfort during the diagnostic consultation and greater use of the word 'raised'. Greater use of the word 'irregular' predicted greater concerns about fertility, greater focus on fertility predicted greater concerns about physical health, and greater focus on appearance predicted greater concerns about hirsutism.
How a diagnosis of PCOS is delivered can impact subsequent wellbeing. The diagnostic consultation may take a few minutes, yet how these minutes are managed, what words are used, and how this makes the patient feel may change how the patient makes sense of their condition and influence the impact of the condition on their wellbeing for the longer term.
多囊卵巢综合征（PCOS）与健康状况相关。许多女性对诊断过程表示不满。
本研究评估了诊断咨询各方面对后续健康状况的影响。
一项回顾性社区调查。
患有PCOS的女性（n = 147）完成了关于诊断咨询各方面（咨询满意度、表述和重点所使用的语言）以及当前健康状况（身体自尊、生活质量）的测量。
大多数诊断在初级保健机构进行。大多数人对咨询表示中等程度的满意。大多数诊断使用中性术语“升高”来表述，但许多人使用了更具评判性的术语“异常”。大多数诊断的重点是口服避孕药和体重管理。诊断咨询期间沟通舒适度较低以及更多使用“升高”一词预示着较低的身体自尊（身体不满和节食行为）和较低的生活质量（自我认同、对生育能力的担忧、身体健康、多毛症以及总体生活质量）。更多使用“不规则”一词预示着对生育能力的更大担忧，更多关注生育能力预示着对身体健康的更大担忧，更多关注外貌预示着对多毛症的更大担忧。
PCOS的诊断方式会影响后续的健康状况。诊断咨询可能只需几分钟，但这几分钟如何安排、使用什么措辞以及给患者带来怎样的感受，可能会改变患者对自身病情的理解方式，并从长远影响病情对其健康状况的影响。
