The Perception of One''s Body Image in the Early Post-Operative Period of Women with Uterine Myoma after Total Hysterectomy

• Main Authors: YANG, CHENG-FANG, 楊承芳
• Other Authors: Yu-Mei Yu Chao
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2001
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/12347079621706707262

碩士 === 國立臺灣大學 === 護理學研究所 === 89 === This study is based on clinical cases involving patients who had total hysterectomies for uterine myomas. From patients’ perspective, we hope that an in-depth understand of their perception of one''s body image after total hysterectomy, be obtained. This study utilized the field method. For information collection, the "observer as participant" method was used. A total of seven subjects who received total hysterectomies for uterine myomas were selected by purposive sampling. During the subjects’ hospitalization, the researcher served as a primary care nurse to provide the subjects’ nursing care and at the same time for information collection. After the patients’ discharged, home or telephone interviews once a week were arranged to further understand their thoughts and existential situation of being women after the hysterectomies. This was done until one month after operation. In the interviews, special arrangement of two that lasted one to one and half hours, were conducted in-depth interviews. The first in-depth interview was on the last day of hospitalization and the second was on the fourth week after operation. To find out if there is any difference, we compared the subjects’ perception of one''s body image between immediate post-operation and those at recovery. The subjects’ verbal responses and non-verbal behaviors were documented as narrative process-recordings. Of those related to verbal portion, they were further arranged, analyzed and categorized. This study concludes that in women who had total hysterectomies for uterine myomas, the perception of one’s body image after operation is a dynamic one with continuous adjustment and amendment. Although, we could not delimit the specific time period clearly, but the changes in relation to time sequence is noticeable. The results of this study also reveal that the perception of one’s body image in this group of subjects after operation can be categorized in three main themes: 1) perceiving sensational change of one''s abdominal in early post-operative period 2) rebuilding the perception of one''s body image 3) reviewing and integrating this experience. The result of this study may assist the clinical nursing staff to be in the perspective of this particular group of patients and therefor to have a deeper understanding of their feelings and views; may provide the gynecology nursing staff a reference for assessment of these patients’ needs and hopefully enable the nursing staff to provide the nursing care for which the patients expect.