Seeking adaptation from uncertainty: Coping strategies of South Korean women with endometriosis.

Women with endometriosis may experience uncertainty owing to the characteristics of the disease, including vague symptom patterns, delayed diagnosis, and long-term management with no cure. However, women use various coping strategies to adapt to the uncertainty caused by their endometriosis. This descriptive qualitative study explored the coping experiences of women with endometriosis to reduce their uncertainty about the disease and to achieve successful adaptation to their lives with endometriosis. By using convenience and purposive sampling methods, qualitative data were collected from 14 women in South Korea (mean age = 37.7 years, age range = 27-54 years), who were diagnosed with endometriosis through laparoscopy or open surgery. All interview data were thematically analyzed. Four themes were identified as adaptive coping experiences: (1) gaining self-control over the ambiguous disease; (2) regaining the daily routines destroyed by the disease; (3) being emotionally supported and expressing oneself when feeling unsupported by society; and (4) taking an active role in one's treatment plan by being self-directed. Patients' sense of self-control and self-directedness regarding the disease and the treatment process were important to adapt to life with endometriosis. In addition, regaining stable daily routines as well as being emotionally supported were critical for decreasing their uncertainty. This paper has widespread implications, including the need for training or a continuing education program for health professionals to enhance their competencies when caring for women with endometriosis and the need for social efforts to increase awareness of the disease.

Comparisons of the Incidence and Critical Risk Factors of Metabolic Syndrome in Patients With a Rheumatic Disease or Gout.

BACKGROUND: Rheumatic disease and gout are particularly known to be associated with metabolic syndrome. PURPOSE: To compare incidence, physiological indices, and risk factors of metabolic syndrome in patients with rheumatic diseases or gout. METHODS: Data were collected from medical records of 220 patients with rheumatic disease or gout. RESULTS: The incidence rate and most physiological indices of metabolic syndrome (body mass index, blood pressure, serum triglyceride, and fasting blood glucose levels) were significantly higher in the gout group than in the rheumatic disease group. In terms of risk factors of metabolic syndrome, age, gender, and steroid use were significant in the rheumatic disease group, whereas smoking and gout duration were significant in the gout group. CONCLUSIONS: Men with a rheumatic disease taking steroids warrant additional attention regarding metabolic syndrome development. Special supports are also needed for people with gout who are smokers and who have suffered from gout for a longer duration.