停經婦女陰道症狀困擾及其自我處理的經驗

Disturbance Experiences and Vaginal Symptom Self-Management among Menopausal Women

本研究採質性研究法，研究目的為探討停經婦女陰道症狀困擾及其自我處理的主觀經驗。以半結構性訪談指引，對停經一年以上並有陰道症狀困擾婦女進行深入訪談，採持續比較法內容分析；共訪談了十九位個案，年齡介於49至68歲之間。研究發現兩大主題及其類屬如下：（一）陰道症狀困擾，包括三類屬：陰部不適感、不便啟齒的私密與內心感受以及日常生活的困擾；、（二）陰道症狀自我處理，包括三類屬：就醫求診意願低、自我尋求資源處理以及性生活的衝擊與因應。陰道症狀衝擊停經婦女生理，心理及性方面之健康，醫護人員應更能敏感察覺婦女之隱私性的健康問題，主動關懷停經婦女陰道症狀之健康需求，積極提供相關健康知識，以增進婦女此方面之自我照顧能力。上述的發現具體反映停經婦女在陰道症狀困擾之切身經驗，建議納入更年期婦女照護的教材參考，以增進醫護人員對停經婦女照護的實務知識。

The purpose of this qualitative research was to explore subjective experiences related to vaginal symptom disturbance and self-management experience of menopausal women. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were used to collect data. Nineteen participants aged 49 to 68 were recruited. Data obtained from interview transcripts were analyzed using a constant comparative method. Two themes and six related categories emerged from interview data. Vaginal symptom disturbance experience fell into the three categories of sensation of vaginal symptoms; hesitation to share such with others and disturbance of daily life routines. Self-management of vaginal symptoms included unwillingness to visit physicians, self-seeking resources to deal with symptoms, and impacts and coping with sexual life. The impact of vaginal symptoms included distress on physical, mental and sexual life. Health providers should be more sensitive with regard to vaginal symptoms in menopausal women and take a more aggressive approach to provide health education to raise awareness and enhance self-management of vaginal symptoms among menopausal women. Hopefully, participant concerns/insights on vaginal disturbance will provide valuable references for application in teaching materials for health providers to improve menopausal care.