Laying the Groundwork: A Pilot Study Exploring Improved Endometriosis Management Strategies in Primary Healthcare

Abstract

Objective

To evaluate if a brief educational intervention for primary health care staff regarding endometriosis gives sustainable knowledge of endometriosis symptoms and if a brief questionnaire for women seeking care for common symptoms is feasible in the Swedish primary care context.

Design

Pilot study.

Setting

3 primary care centres (PCCs) in Sweden. Exploring knowledge among staff about endometriosis at baseline and 3 months after an information workshop. Evaluation of feasibility of a brief questionnaire for women seeking care for common symptoms For PCC personnel: knowledge about endometriosis at baseline and after 3 months. For patient questionnaire: whether adequate, understandable, acceptable, and feasible.

Participants

Females in primary care centre waiting room, and staff members at participating PCCs.

Results

The knowledge level of endometriosis was improved or sustained after 3 months compared to baseline among staff at PCCs. Over 90% of the patients stated that the questionnaire was adequate, understandable, acceptable, and feasible.

Conclusion

We found that an educational programme improved the staff’s knowledge about endometriosis. The programme together with the patient questionnaire could be a way to enhance knowledge about endometriosis among PCCs. This combined effort might facilitate earlier detection and treatment of women with endometriosis.

Keywords:

• endometriosis
• primary care
• diagnosis
• educational intervention

Data Sharing Statement

The datasets used and/or analysed during the current study is available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Ethics

This study was approved by the Regional Ethical Review Board in Gothenburg, Sweden (Dnr 733-18). All participants, both staff members and female patients in the waiting room, were provided with written and oral information and signed a written informed consent.

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the patients and the staff at the primary care centres Husläkarna Vallda, Närhälsan Stenungsund and Masthugget Familjeläkare for participating in this study.

A similar abstract of this paper was presented at the:

2023 NAPCRG 51st Annual Meeting happening October 30 - November 3, 2023, as a /oral presentation with interim findings. The oral presentation abstract was published in ‘Poster Abstracts’ in The Annals of Family Medicine: 21 (Supplement 1) Can a Patient Questionnaire Together with Staff Education Increase Diagnostics of Endometriosis in Primary Care? Annals of Family Medicine (annfammed.org)”

Author Contributions

All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, whether that is in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation, or in all these areas; took part in drafting, revising or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This pilot was funded by: Grant from the Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare—FORTE 2007-1958 and grants from the Swedish State under the agreement between the Swedish Government and the county council, the ALF agreement GBG-68771.