Highlights
- •The status of pelvic floor dysfunction was investigated among cervical cancer survivors undergoing radiation therapy, without a history of surgery.
- •Age, BMI, recurrence, times of radiotherapy and the number of deliveries have negative effects on pelvic floor function in cervical cancer survivors.
- •The higher the number of radiotherapy sessions, the more serious the extent of pelvic floor dysfunction in cervical cancer survivors.
- •Based on different radiotherapy stages, it is important to provide timely individualized care for pelvic floor dysfunction across different stages of severity.
- •It is necessary to focus on the pelvic floor function of patients with cervical cancer who experience recurrence.
Abstract
Purpose
Radiotherapy can negatively affect the pelvic floor function of patients with cervical
cancer; however, the impact of different radiotherapy times and other related factors
on pelvic floor function in cervical cancer survivors during radiotherapy remains
unclear. We aimed to investigate the status of pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) in cervical
cancer survivors during radiotherapy and to analyze the factors influencing PFD.
Methods
In this cross-sectional study, a convenience sampling method was used to recruit cervical
cancer survivors undergoing radiotherapy from January 2022 to July 2022 at a tertiary
first-class hospital located in northeastern China. The Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory-Short
Form 20 was used for participants' self-report of their PFD during radiotherapy.
Results
Data from 120 cervical cancer survivors were included in this study. The results showed
that the mean PFDI-20 total score was 32.69 ± 7.76. Multiple stepwise linear regression
analysis showed that 56.9% of the variance in PFD was explained by age (β = 0.25,
p < 0.001), body mass index (β = 0.32, p < 0.001), recurrence (β = 0.29, p < 0.001),
number of radiotherapy sessions (β = 0.39, p < 0.001), and number of deliveries (β = 0.35,
p < 0.001).
Conclusion
It is important to pay more attention to the PFD status of cervical cancer survivors
receiving radiotherapy. Future therapeutic approaches should involve early identification
of relevant risk factors early to provide patients with personalized care at different
stages of radiotherapy for reducing their discomfort and improving their health-related
quality of life.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
March 10,
2023
Received in revised form:
February 5,
2023
Received:
November 22,
2022
Publication stage
In Press Accepted ManuscriptIdentification
Copyright
© 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
