Psychophysiological Adjustment to Ovarian Cancer: Preliminary Study on Italian Women Condition.

This study aimed to evaluate the psychological and physiological adjustment in a sample of Ovarian Cancer survivors. For all we know, this is the first time that such analysis has been performed in Italy. We assessed psychological adjustment along with physiological adjustment, measured through the basal Heart Rate Variability at rest. We assessed 38 women overall, aged 29-80 years, in follow up for ovarian cancer. Each participant filled a psycho-oncological record, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, Derridford Appearance Scale-59, Mental Adjustment to Cancer and EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire LQ-30 Version 3.0. For each participant, we recorded Heart Rate Variability (5 min). These women have shown a high rate of perceived general social support (Me = 5.93) but they seem to have some general concern about their appearance (Me = 85.97, SD = 24.4). They have also shown a rather good total Quality of Life (QL2 Me = 66.32) with specific difficulties in emotional functioning (EF; Me = 69.19). Heart Rate Variability values, however, were lower of nearly 50% when compared to normative values. These women, then, seem to drag concerns and difficulties, in particular linked to the acceptance of their condition. Surprisingly enough, the best adjustment in these women seems to be related to the worst starting conditions. It is possible to suggest that the extremely negative conditions force these women to face cancer openly, as well as their condition of cancer survivors, pushing them "moving on" more than "trying to get back".

Contribution to the validation of Italian version of Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire.

BACKGROUND AIM: Propose further evidence for reliability and validity of Italian translation and adaptation of Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire, (FABQ) originally built-up by Waddel et al. (1993) METHODS: 250 participants, inpatient and outpatient, suffering from acute or chronic back-pain have been consecutively recruited from various Italian physiotherapy and functional rehabilitation centres. All participants were administered FABQ and QUALEFFO, to evaluate if avoiding behaviors can provoke disability independently from experimented pain. RESULTS: Varimax rotation, point out a 4 factor structure: "Prognosis", "Work as cause", "Damage Expectancy", "Physical activity as cause". Statistical analysis underlined a good internal consistency. A good criterion validity resulted from correlation between FABQ scoring and QUALEFFO. The sample was splitted in "avoiders" (A) and "confronters" (C). Group A had no significant correlation between FABQ-W score and pain episode lasting, remission interval lasting, back-pain sick leave; no significant correlation emerged between beliefs and perceived pain. In group C a direct relation emerged between duration of sick leave, FABQ-W scores and FABQTOT scores, and an association between FABQ scores and reported pain. CONCLUSION: Pain-related fear and fear-avoidance beliefs are specific index which have to be considered in the first assessment phases, to prevent their effect on global functioning and on patients' quality of life. FABQ pointed out good reliability and validity propriety in Italian version. FABQ seems to be a brilliant instrument for multidisciplinary clinical practice in pain problem approach.