Effectiveness of a Nursing Intervention on Quality of Life, Sexual Function, and Self-esteem in Hysterectomized Women

Surgical hysterectomy is second only to cesarean section as a surgical procedure in women, causing an impact on sexual function, quality of life, and self-esteem, therefore it is necessary to incorporate a comprehensive care in search of women's welfare. Objectives: To know the meaning of education in the perioperative period, in women submitted to hysterectomy for a benign cause. To determine the efficacy of a nursing educational intervention based on self-care in the improvement of sexual function, health-related quality of life, and self-esteem in women undergoing hysterectomy for benign causes. Subjects and methods: A sequential exploratory mixed-method study. For the qualitative phase, individual interviews will be conducted with women (35 to 65 years old) with the indication of hysterectomy for benign pathology attending the gynecology office, who will be contacted and invited to participate. The interviews will be analyzed using the content analysis technique. The quantitative phase will correspond to a quasi-experimental study design with a non-equivalent control group in women with indications for hysterectomy between 35 and 65 years old in two Obstetric Gynecological Hospitals in Quito. At least 26 women on the waiting list for hysterectomy for the experimental group and 26 for the comparison group will be included. Instruments: Bio-sociodemographic questionnaire, Female Sexual Function Index, SF-36, and Rosenberg Scale. The two groups will receive traditional care and the experimental group will additionally receive face-to-face nursing educational intervention with technological support. Ethical requirements will be considered. Expected results: After the nursing education intervention with technological support, women in the experimental group will improve their sexual function, health-related quality of life, and self-esteem concerning the comparison group