The explaining of spiritual, psychological, emotional and cognitive health concepts in women with polycystic ovary syndrom: A qualitative study

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common chronic endocrine disorder. It has significant and diverse clinical consequence including reproductive, metabolic, psychological morbidity and some cancer. It is unclear how this syndrome affects the health of PCOS women can experience symptoms of this syndrome. The aim of this study was to clarify the mental, emotional, and cognitive health concepts in women with PCOS.
Methods and Materials: This study was a qualitative study to explore and document perceptions of women with PCOS about their disease and health Concepts. Semi-structured opened interviews were conducted with 23 women with polycystic ovary syndrome and 8 specialist persons. Interviewing of the participants were continued to reach data saturation. The study was carried out at the Rohani Hospital affliated of Babol University. All the interviews were recorded and transcribed. Constant comparative analysis of the data was conducted manually according to the Strauss and Corbin analysis method. The study revealed that the most important factors affecting the health in women with PCOS. The spiritual dimension (divine providence, prayer, thinking of the hereafter, resorting to the Imams, adaptation to disease problems( the mental dimension (depression, disappointment, fear and anxiety, distraction, introversion), the emotional dimension (low self-esteem, feeling embarrassed and shameful, humiliation, and self-contemplation towards peers) and the cognitive dimension (mental engagement and concentration reduction, inability to solve a problem, inability to make decisions) were extracted. A remarkable point in this study was the effect of religious beliefs on the acceptance of the disease and become more resilient by properly addressing their spiritual health. in addition to the treatment of physical symptoms, comprehensive cares including various mental, emotional, cognitive aspects have to be planned for women affected by PCOS. They need special support from the family, health professionals and healthcare providers to improve their health. It is best to evaluate these patients regularly to meet their needs and expectations.