Adherence to physiotherapeutic guidelines in the prevention of vaginal stenosis after brachytherapy in the treatment of cervical cancer

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v10i5.14876

Keywords:

Brachytherapy; Vaginal stenosis; Prysical Therapy; Treatment Adherence and Compliance; Uterine cervical neoplasms.

Abstract

Introduction: Dilation exercises and sexual intercourse are preventive guidelines and vaginal stenosis. Objective: to evaluate patients' adherence to physiotherapeutic guidelines in the prevention of vaginal stenosis. Methods: retrospective study of medical records of women with cervical cancer who underwent brachytherapy between January and December 2018, and who had a one-year follow-up at the physiotherapy outpatient clinic. Continuous variables were described by mean and standard deviation and categorical variables by percentage frequency. A QCochran test was applied, considering a significance level of p≤ 0.05 to assess variations in 6 months and 1 year. Results: Medical records of 60 women with an avarage age of 49.4 years (± 11.1) were analyzed. In the first evaluation, after brachytherapy, 21 women (35%) performed vaginal dilation exercises, 26 women (43.3%) were sexually active and 13 women (21.7%) already had vaginal stenosis. After one year, 21 women (35%) performed vaginal dilation exercises and 26 women (43.3%) were sexually active. Considering those who performed at least one of the guidelines, 43 women (73.3%) adhered. There was no significant change for these parameters over 6months, or for 1year (p = 0.368). Adherence did not vary significantly for the performance of dilation exercises in the period of 6months and 1year, nor for the practice of sexual intercourse in this period (p = 0.097 and p = 0.368, respectively). Conclusion: There was good adherence by women to follow some type of preventive stenosis guidance and maintenance of the practice of these guidelines over the course of 1year.

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Published

03/05/2021

How to Cite

NASCIMENTO, K. C. do; MODESTO, F. C.; CARVALHO, R. B. de M. .; FERREIRA, K. R.; LOPES SOUZA, P. .; SILVA, G. T. da . Adherence to physiotherapeutic guidelines in the prevention of vaginal stenosis after brachytherapy in the treatment of cervical cancer. Research, Society and Development, [S. l.], v. 10, n. 5, p. e19010514876, 2021. DOI: 10.33448/rsd-v10i5.14876. Disponível em: https://www.rsdjournal.org/index.php/rsd/article/view/14876. Acesso em: 25 apr. 2024.

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Section

Health Sciences