Medical rehabilitation of patients with treatment-induced menopause: quality of life and clinical efficiency assessment

Abstract

Objective: to develop the comprehensive medical rehabilitation program for patients after cervical cancer treatment (surgical or combination therapy) and to assess its clinical effectiveness and impact on the quality of life. Material and method: the study included 92 patients (mean age 35 ± 2 years) with induced menopause, resulting from cervical cancer treatment (stages T1bN0M0 — T2bN0M0), who were divided into 2 groups. The main group included 50 patients, the control group included 42 patients. The patients from main group underwent pathogenetically substantiated rehabilitation procedures (dietotherapy, individual and group psychotherapy with pre-rehabilitation stage, physiotherapy, phytotherapy, immunotherapy and preformed physical factors). A.M. Wein scale (for neurovegetative disorders), the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) and the SF-36 questionnaire (for quality of life) were used to evaluate the program effectiveness at the beginning and at the end of the study. Results: the results shows neurovegetative disorders, anxiety and depression levels decrease by 17,3; 23,2 and 13,6% respectively. The quality of life assessment revealed an emotional functioning and social functioning increase by 6,8 and 9,8% respectively. Conclusion: the research demonstrated effectiveness of developed medical rehabilitation program. It reliably reduces neurovegetative manifestations, raises emotional and social functioning levels and positively affects patient’s quality of life.