Health and Coping Prior to Ovarian Cancer Surgery
Condition: Health and Coping Undergoing Ovarian Cancer Surgery.; Cancer Rehabilitation
MeSH terms: Ovarian Neoplasms; Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      Background Denmark has a record-high incidence of, and mortality rate for, ovarian cancer.
      There are 600 new cases of ovarian cancer each year. In 2008 the state issued a guarantee of
      early diagnosis and treatment of all cases of suspected cancer, and surgical treatment has
      been centralised and standardised in fast track programmes. However, the investigators do not
      know how women with ovarian cancer experience the period prior to surgery and how they can
      optimally prepare for treatment and care.

      Aim The two principal aims of the study are to describe health and coping in Danish women
      surgically treated for ovarian cancer; and to examine to what extent it is possible, from
      both a patient and professional perspective, to improve the health and everyday life of
      patients with ovarian cancer.

      Materials and methods The study is conducted within the scientific theoretical framework of
      hermeneutics, involving the overall concepts of health promotion and rehabilitation. The
      study will be carried out in 4 stages between September 2008 and September 2011. Stage 1: A
      health-related characterisation of Danish women with ovarian cancer through a registration
      process. Stage 2: Qualitative research interviews with patients, to gain knowledge about
      spontaneous preoperative coping strategies and resources.

      Stage 3: The preoperative preparation programme will be developed and clinically tested. The
      effect of participation will be measured by self-assessed health and coping before and after
      surgery. The study period runs from the time the decision is taken to operate until eight
      weeks after discharge. The study takes place at the Department of Gynaecology at Aarhus
      University Hospital, Skejby in Denmark, which is a regional centre of surgical treatment of
      gynaecological cancer.

      Results The study provides insight into the preoperative coping strategies and general health
      of Danish women suffering from ovarian cancer. The development and testing of the
      preoperative preparation programme contributes to knowledge about optimisation of
      preoperative preparation. This might have a positive impact on the participants' general
      health and level of functioning during their treatment. Furthermore, the project contributes
      to knowledge of the preoperative coping strategies and experiences of (female) cancer
      patients in general.
    

Detailed description: 
      Supervisors Lise Hounsgaard, Associate Professor, PhD, Research Unit of Nursing, Institute of
      Clinical Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark. Lone Kjeld
      Petersen, Consultant, DMSc. and Jan Blaakær, Consultant, DMSc.Department of Gynaecology and
      Obstetrics Y, Aarhus University Hospital, Skejby.

      Funding Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark. Department of Gynaecology
      and Obstetrics Y, Aarhus University Hospital, Skejby. The Research Foundation of Health
      Science in Central Denmark Region. The Research Foundation of Aarhus University Hospital,
      Skejby. The Hede Nielsen Foundation. The Danish Cancer Society, Psychosocial Research
      Committee. Tha Danish Nurses organisation
    

Intervention name(s): Preoperative preparation 2010
Intervention type(s): Procedure
Intervention description(s): Preoperative optimisation Supportive care LEAN in patient pathways
Other intervention name(s): Preoperative care
Allocation: Non-Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Supportive Care
Keywords: Preoperative; Intervention; Support; Care