Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) is an ambiguous and disabling condition, affecting 10-15% of U.S. women of reproductive age. Endometriosis, a condition for which there is no effective treatment, is the most common diagnosis of CPP. Common symptoms include pelvic pain, and dyspareunia. Relationship and role disruptions in endometriosis are reported, but the woman and couple's symptom experiences and responses have not been documented. The purpose of this study is to articulate the woman and her partner's illness understanding, symptom experience, and relationship responses to living with CPP. The larger aim is to develop knowledge to support the holistic care for women with CPP, so we may provide humanistic and effective nursing interventions for women and their partners. The proposed study is a mixed-method design, with qualitative methodology as primary. Interpretive phenomenology guides the design and conduct of the study. A measurement of distress and affective response is the adjunct quantitative method.
Specific aims are: 1) articulate the commonalities and differences of the lived experience of women who have CPP with a diagnosis of endometriosis, and their partners; 2) describe the symptom experience from the woman and her intimate partner's perspective; 3) compare dyadic versus individual constructions of living with endometriosis; and 4) describe the relationship between the woman and her partner's symptom experience. ? ?

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)
Type
Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)
Project #
5F31NR008083-02
Application #
6659882
Study Section
National Institute of Nursing Research Initial Review Group (NRRC)
Program Officer
Phillips, Janice
Project Start
2002-09-17
Project End
2004-09-16
Budget Start
2003-09-17
Budget End
2004-09-16
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2003
Total Cost
$27,065
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California San Francisco
Department
Miscellaneous
Type
Schools of Nursing
DUNS #
094878337
City
San Francisco
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
94143
Strzempko Butt, Frances; Chesla, Catherine (2007) Relational patterns of couples living with chronic pelvic pain from endometriosis. Qual Health Res 17:571-85