Comparing the quality of life of endometriotic patients' before and after treatment with normal and infertile patients based on the EHP30 questionnaire

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to determine the quality of life (QOL), in patients with endometriosis ± infertility (B and C groups) and compare those to healthy women, and also infertile groups without endometriosis as a control groups (A and D), considering the fact that endometriosis and infertility reduces the quality of life in patients.

METHODS

The present prospective comparative study was carried out between January 2018 and September 2020. A total of 400 women were included (100 women in each group). The participants filled in a validated questionnaire of quality of life, Endometriosis Health Profile-30 (EHP-30), and a visual analog scale of pain used, at the first visit, and 3 months after the medical or surgical treatment in the endometriosis group without infertility, additionally.

RESULTS

The majority of the patients were married, categorized in the middle-class of socio-economic state and housewives. They were of Persian descent. BMI was high in the infertile groups; however, the time of infertility was not different between the two groups of B and C (P = 0.054). The mean score of QOL was significantly lower in B, C, and D groups in comparison to the healthy women as the control group (A) (P < 0.001). Moreover, the infertile group (B), in comparison to endometriosis ± infertility groups (C and D), had the lowest mean score of QOL (P < 0.001). In each group, those who were older and had better educational level reported a better quality of life than other participants in that group. Social support plays a very important role in reducing the endometriosis related pain symptoms both before and after treatment. Three months after the treatment of endometriosis (D), a significant improvement was observed in all the aspects of QOL-related endometriosis. Nonetheless, the improvement of the quality of life in the surgical group was significantly higher than that in the medical treatment. The mean visual analog score of pain decreased from 62.22 ± 22.78, to 5.15 ± 2.73 following the surgical treatment (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The lowest quality of life belonged to the infertile group, followed by the endometriosis group. The quality of life of the endometriosis group improved after the treatment. Thus, endometriotic patients' treatment in terms of improvement of quality of life should be considered by all professional health care teams.

Relationship between research self-efficacy and evidence-based practice in the medical students

BACKGROUND

Due to the rapid advancement of medical knowledge, promotion in research is necessary to have the best clinical practice. Research Self-efficacy (RSE) is the researcher's confidence in their ability to conduct a specific study. The Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) represents how to improve the quality of care and treatment of patients. RSE and EBP are the cornerstones of successful research and then efficacious medical practice. This study aims to evaluate RSE and acceptance of EBP and their correlation among medical students.

MATERIALS AND MEHODS

This is a cross-sectional study designed on 600 clinical students at the medical school of Shiraz, using a census method in 2020. Students were invited to fill out the standardized Phillips and Russell's questionnaires about RSE (4 domains, 33 questions) and Rubin and Parrish's questionnaire of EBP (10 questions). The gathered data were analyzed through the SPSS at α = 0.05 using descriptive statistics, t-test, Chi-square, and multiple linear regressions.

RESULTS

There was a positive correlation between EBP and RSE score (P < 0.05). The results of linear regression test showed that all variables had a significant effect on our response variables and their effect were significant (P < 0.05). The highest mean score in RSE was shown in the subscale of writing skills (52.54). The lowest score was observed in the subscale of quantitative (student's subjective assessment of their ability to work with statistically related data and formulas) as well as computer skills (35.61).

CONCLUSIONS

Students who participated in a research project, workshop, or Master of Public Health program got a higher RSE and EBP. Due to the positive correlation between RSE and EBP, we conclude that trained physicians who can research independently and use research evidence can find the best treatment approach for patients. These finding support the importance of integrating research education in medical curriculum to increase RSE and finally improvement of EBP among medical students.