Quality of LIFE / Quality of SEX

Gynaecological cancer has shifted from being a terminal disease to a chronic illness with high survival rates. This has lead to an increased emphasis on quality of life issues, including sexual functioning. The current research involved four multi-centre studies to document long-term psycho-sexual and quality of life outcomes for gynaecological patients, and identify predictors of post-treatment adjustment. The findings indicate that treatment for early stage cervical and endometrial cancer does not result in major, continuing sexual upheaval and sequelae. In contrast, women treated for non-cancerous gynaecological conditions reported poorer adjustment to their diagnosis and treatment than expected, indicating that the impact of such conditions may be underestimated by health care professionals. Psychological factors and the doctor-patient relationship/communication were key predictors of post-treatment psycho-sexual adjustment. This book is a reproduction of Dr Juraskova s PhD, published due to high interest. It will be of value to researchers and health professionals interested in psycho-oncology, and psycho-sexual adjustment of women with gynaecological conditions in particular.

Autorentext

Dr Ilona Juraskova is a Cancer Institute NSW Research Fellow, a Lecturer in Health Psychology at The University of Sydney, and a clinical psychologist. Her areas of expertise include psycho-sexual adjustment and doctor-patient communication in the field of oncology. Photo courtesy of the Cancer Institute NSW.