RESUMO
Background Hysterectomy is a common surgical procedure performed for benign gynecological diseases. While the physical benefits have been extensively studied, less attention has been given to its impact on psychological well-being and overall quality of life (QoL). This study aimed to assess the psychological outcomes and QoL before and after hysterectomy for benign diseases. Methodology This prospective cohort study included women undergoing hysterectomy for benign diseases at Ibn El Jazzar Hospital in Kairouan, Tunisia. The study was conducted from January 2, 2020, to December 31, 2021. We used the Short-Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36) to evaluate the QoL and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) to assess psychological outcomes preoperatively and after six months. Data entry and analysis were performed using SPSS version 26 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA) with the significance level (p) set to 0.05. Results Of 84 assessed patients, 60 were included. Following the hysterectomy, there were improvements in QoL and psychological outcomes across all domains, regardless of whether total or subtotal hysterectomy was performed. The mean HADS score for anxiety decreased from 12.57 to 8.77 after hysterectomy and from 14.83 to 9.57 for depression. Moreover, the median SF-36 total score increased from 29.81 to 68.1. We found no statistically significant difference between the two groups in all assessed outcomes. Conclusions Hysterectomy for benign conditions, whether total or subtotal, positively impacted symptoms of depression and anxiety, as well as the overall QoL for patients. A thorough preoperative psychiatric assessment is recommended to address and support mental health outcomes in these patients. Future research should consider a larger multicenter approach for a broader application of findings.
RESUMO
Background Obesity is a globally recognized health concern with profound consequences for individual health, especially among adolescents. Tunisia, like many countries, is experiencing alarming rates of adolescent obesity. Understanding adolescents' perceptions of their weight status and the factors influencing these perceptions is pivotal for developing targeted interventions and policies to counteract the rising obesity trends. Objective To determine the accuracy of weight status perceptions among Tunisian adolescents compared to objective metrics and to identify sociodemographic characteristics associated with the inaccurate estimation of weight status. Methods A cross-sectional, school-based study was conducted among adolescents attending secondary schools in Sousse, Tunisia, during the 2017-2018 academic year. A total of 1399 students participated, with anthropometric measurements taken, and a pre-tested Arabic questionnaire administered to gather sociodemographic data and perceived weight status, assessed using the Figure Rating Scale (FRS). The accuracy of perceived weight status was determined by comparing the measured weight status with participants' self-reported perceptions. Results The study achieved an 86.68% response rate, with over half of the participants being female (60.5%), and the average age being 17 years. The majority of adolescents (41%) perceived themselves as having normal body weight, while 34.5% perceived themselves as underweight, 16.6% as overweight, and 7.9% as obese. However, based on BMI categories, 72.6% had a normal measured weight, 20.4% were overweight, and 6.9% were obese. A substantial proportion of participants (45.6%) underestimated their weight status, with a significant proportion being objectively overweight or obese (26%). Furthermore, we found a significant association between the perception of weight accuracy and both gender (p = 0.010) and the mother's educational level (p = 0.035). Conclusions The findings revealed a disparity between perceived and actual weight status among Tunisian adolescents, with a significant underestimation of weight status, particularly among those who are overweight or obese. The results highlighted the crucial need for interventions that address weight perception inaccuracies and promote healthy weight awareness and management among adolescents in Tunisia.
