Body image concerns in individuals diagnosed with benign gynaecological conditions: scoping review and meta-synthesis

Figures & data

Figure 1. Quality appraisal criteria.

Figure 2. PRISMA diagram of search strategy.

Table 1. Quality appraisal criteria.

Author	Aims	Approach	Account	Data	Analysis	Recruitment	Structure	Theory	Socio-cultural	Validity	Score
Facchin et al. (2018)	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	10
Gonçalves et al. (2016)	1	1	1	1	1	0	1	0.5	1	1	8.5
Ghant et al. (2015)	1	1	1	1	1	0	1	1	1	1	9
Grundström et al. (2018)	1	0.5	1	1	1	1	1	1	0	1	8.5
Hållstam et al. (2018)	1	1	1	1	1	0	1	1	1	1	9
Hudson et al. (2016)	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	10
Jones et al. (2011)	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	0	0	0	7
Kitzinger and Willmott (2002)	0	1	1	1	0.5	1	1	1	1	0	7.5
Likes et al. (2008)	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	0	0	1	8
Lim et al. (2019)	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	10
Markovic et al. (2008)	1	1	1	1	1	0	1	1	1	1	9
Sharma and Mishra (2018)	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	10
Thorpe et al. (2019)	1	1	1	1	1	1	0	1	0	1	8
Tomlinson et al. (2017)	1	1	1	1	0.5	1	1	0.5	0	1	8
Washington (2008)	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	0	1	1	9.5
Wu et al. (2014)	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	10

Notes: Ratings are for quality appraisal criteria detailed in Figure 1, scores of 1 = meets criterion, 0.5 = partially meets criterion, 0 = does not meet this criterion. Overall quality of paper represented in ‘score’, with higher numbers indicating greater research quality based on guidelines from previous research (Adams et al., 2011; Dixon-Woods et al., 2006).

Table 2. Study characteristics.

Author	N	Population			Approach			Themes^a
		Gender, (age range)	Country/ethnicity	Diagnosis	Data	Analysis	Theory
Facchin et al. (2018)	74	Female (24–50)	Italy	Endo	F2F Interview	Grounded	Grounded	Pathway to diagnosis; Quality of doctor-patient relationships; Current presence of symptoms; Support; Female identity; Meaning of life with endometriosis
Gonçalves et al. (2016)	15	Female (24–49)	Brazil	Endo	F2F Interview	Framework Analysis Method	None reported	Expectations of yoga; Physical and emotional state; Control and pain; Secondary benefits; Self-knowledge; Psychosocial support
Ghant et al. (2015)	60	Female (29–55)	White Black Asian Hispanic	Fibroids	F2F Interview	Grounded	Grounded	Negative body image and sexuality; Psychological distress; Lack of support; Strengths and limitations; Helplessness
Grundström et al. (2018)	9	Female (25–55)	Unknown	Endo	F2F Interview	Stevick–Colaizzi–Keen Method	Phenomenological	Double edged sword of experience; Ignorance; Acknowledgement
Hadjiconstantinou et al. (2017)	12	Female (17–51)	White Black Asian	PCOS	F2F Interview	Policy Research	None reported	Symptoms and diagnosis; Psychological distress; Practical implications; Coping support needs
Hållstam et al. (2018)	13	Female (24–48)	Sweden Europe	Endo	F2F Interview	Grounded	Grounded	'I’m different’; Dependence; Ruined Life; Struggle for coherence
Hudson et al. (2016)	44	Female (25–50) and male (26–57)	White South Asian Other	Endo	F2F Interview	Thematic	Interpretative relational paradigm	Sex and intimacy; Children; Working lives and social lives
Jones et al. (2011)	15	Female (17–21)	White Mixed	PCOS	F2F Interview	Thematic	None reported	Knowledge of PCOS; Hirsutism; Weight; Acne; Menstrual problems; Infertility; Emotions; Personal relationships; Sexual relationships; Professional help; Diet and exercise; Self-perception; Positive aspects
Kitzinger and Willmott (2002)	30	Female (21–42)	White Non-White	PCOS	F2F Interview	Discursive analysis	None reported	Bearded ladies and hairy monsters; Irregular women; Infertility
Likes et al. (2008)	6	Female (22–72)	White	VIN	Focus groups	None listed	None reported	Spirituality and time in life; Significant others; Health care providers; Others with VIN
Lim et al. (2019)	10	Female (18–45)	White Asian, Oceanic Other	PCOS	F2F interview	Thematic	Grounded	Weight loss journey; PCOS on weight; Past weight loss experience; Facilitators to management; Barriers
Markovic et al. (2008)	30	Female (30–60+)	Not reported	Fibroids	F2F interview	Thematic	Contextualism	Hysterectomy as loss; Hysterectomy as gain; Health and social life
Sharma and Mishra (2018)	35	Female (not reported)	Indian	PCOS	F2F interview	Interpretative phenomenological analysis	Phenomenology	PCOS as a tabooed disease; Infertility; Lack of awareness; Social construction
Thorpe et al. (2019)	83	Female non - binary (19–43)	Not reported	PCOS	Drawings, text-based format	Thematic	Critical visual methodology	Awareness of visible and invisible symptoms; Misshapen self and body; Limitations and resignation
Tomlinson et al. (2017)	32	Female (18–42)	Not reported	PCOS	Focus Groups	Grounded	None reported	Diagnostic delays; Lack of empathy; Accessing specialist referral; Lack of information; Inconsistent advice; Insufficient help in/fertility; Longer term risks; Discrepancies in beliefs
Washington (2008)	11	Female (25–39)	Caucasian African-American Native American	PCOS	2 x F2F interviews	None reported	None reported	Pain; Impact on self-concept; Excessive hair and hair loss; Uncontrolled emotions as a Result of PCOS; Impact on workplace; Conception; Employment
Wu et al. (2014)	17	Female (37–50)	Taiwan	Fibroids	F2F interviews	Content	Bounded rationality	Release from stress; Inescapable fate; Positive support; Peace of mind and trust

^aTheme descriptions have been shortened for brevity.

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