Endometriosis-Related Emergency Department Visits: Frequency and Implications

Endometriosis: Understanding Its Role in Frequent Emergency Department Visits

Key Points

Highlight:    

• Women with endometriosis who frequently visited the gynecological emergency department described their experiences as uncertain and inconsistent, often comparing it to "playing the lottery."
• The lack of individualized health plans and varying levels of healthcare provider knowledge contributed to their feelings of unpredictability and stress.

Importance:

• This study is among the first to explore the experiences and expectations of women with endometriosis who repeatedly visit gynecological emergency department.
• It sheds light on an under-researched area, offering insights into their challenges and unmet needs in acute care settings.

What’s done here? 

• This study is qualitative interview study conducted at a  gynecological emergency department of a tertiary university hospital in Sweden.
• Semi-structured interviews guided by a pre-designed question set focused on experiences with endometriosis and GED visits.

Key results  

• Women’s experiences were marked by pain, emotional stress, and unpredictability in the quality of care.
• Trust and respect in communication with health care professionals were pivotal to their experience.
• Implementing patient-centered care and individualized health plans could alleviate stress and improve outcomes for women with endometriosis.
• There is a need for better education and training for health care professionals to provide consistent and informed care.

Limitations

• Both the interviewers were registered nurses, and although none worked at the GED, one worked at the gynaecological clinic, but had had no interactions with the included patients.
• The patients were informed about the interviewers’ backgrounds, and being interviewed by an  health care professionals could be seen as a power imbalance and affect the willingness to share experiences. 

Lay Summary

In a study published in the PlosOne, Emanuel et al. investigated how to describe experiences and expectations related to repeated gynaecological emergency visits among women with endometriosis. This qualitative study was conducted at a Gnecologic energency department in a Swedish university hospital between October 2022 and January 2023. The research focused on understanding the experiences and expectations of women with endometriosis who frequently visited the emergency.

The study identified two primary themes: "Living with Pain" and "Patients’ Needs When Seeking gynecologic emergency department." These themes included subthemes such as the profound emotional and physical impact of pain, strategies for coping, and the inconsistency of care experienced at the GED.Participants highlighted the critical importance of being listened to, receiving consistent and empathetic care, and having access to individualized health plans tailored to their specific needs. 

This study underscores the urgent need for healthcare systems to prioritize the development and implementation of individualized care plans and patient-centered strategies to address the unique challenges faced by women with endometriosis, ensuring they receive consistent, empathetic, and effective care in emergency settings.

Research Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39570892/