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International Journal of Nursing & Clinical Practices Volume 1 (2014), Article ID 1:IJNCP-105, 7 pages
http://dx.doi.org/10.15344/2394-4978/2014/105
Research Article
Sexual Life, Marital Intimacy and Depression in Gynecologic Cancer Patients after Operation

Boonhan Kim1, Dongsuk Lee2, Hwajung Kang3* and Eunju Jang4

1Faculty of College of Nursing, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, 133-791, Korea
2Faculty of Department of Nursing, Kangwon National University, 1 Kangwongaehak-gil, Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do, 200-701, Korea
3Faculty of Department of Nursing, Busan Women's college, 506 Jinnam-ro, Busanjin-gu, Busan, 614-734, Korea
4Faculty of Department of Nursing, Kangwon National University, 1 Kangwongaehak-gil, Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do, 200-701, Korea
Dr. Hwajung Kang, Faculty of Department of Nursing, Busan Women's college, 506 Jinnam-ro, Busanjin-gu, Busan, 614-734, Korea; E-mail: olive111@hanmail.net
26 September 2014; 26 November 2014; 28 November 2014
Kim B, Lee D, Kang H, Jang E (2014) Sexual Life, Marital Intimacy and Depression in Gynecologic Cancer Patients after Operatio. Int J Nurs Clin Pract 1: 105. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.15344/2394-4978/2014/105

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this research was to present a foundation for improving the relationships between gynecological cancer patients and their spouses, as well as their quality of life, by studying the sexual life of gynecological cancer patients before and after surgery and the relationship between their marital intimacy and depression.

Methods: Data were collected from April 20 to May 23, 2010, from research subjects who were diagnosed with gynecological cancer and received treatments as outpatients in the University Hospital K in Seoul. A total of 153 questionnaires were collected from qualified research subjects for the final analysis. The Sex Life Measurement Tool for Cancer Patients (2006) and the Marital Intimacy Questionnaire developed by Warring and Reddon (1993) were used to investigate marital intimacy, and Beck's (1967) Depression Inventory (BID) was used to assess depression.

Results: The following hypotheses were supported: There would be a change in the sexual attitude of gynecological cancer patients and their spouse's, there would be a change in the sexual characteristics of gynecological cancer patients and their spouse's, and there would be a change in the marital intimacy of gynecological cancer patients and their spouse's.

Conclusion: The sexual behavior attitude of gynecological cancer patients changed in a negative way after their operations, and their sexual behavior characteristics were also reduced with a higher degree of depression after operations.