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Biomedical subjects

M Dorfer

Publications and source records attributed to M Dorfer.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

[Psychic coping with spontaneous abortion].

Spontaneous abortion is the early and involuntary loss of pregnancy and occurs in about 15 to 20% of all pregnancies. In this study, Filipp's heuristic model for critical life events was used to evaluate general and specific causal attributions and depressive symptoms after spontaneous abortion. A sample of 100 women was investigated at four measuring points between diagnosis and five weeks after the spontaneous abortion. The results regarding depressive symptom levels showed that two days after the miscarriage, 50% of the women were severely depressed, and five weeks later 30% were still depressed. Depressive symptoms were increased in cases of prior reproductive loss and when pregnancy was planned or desired. With regard to general causal attributions, women who tended to more internal, stable, and global attributions showed a significantly higher level of depressive symptoms than women with external, unstable, and specific attributions. In the area of specific attributions regarding pregnancy loss, the same patterns of results were found.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗
PubMed1998

[Psychological aspects of pain experience in amniocentesis].

UNLABELLED: This study describes the psychological aspects and the experience of pain in 2 groups of women undergoing amniocentesis in relation to the different indication for the procedure and duration of gestation in the respective groups. METHODS AND SUBJECTS: Data were collected after amniocentesis from 100 pregnant women, 50 of whom underwent age-related amniocentesis (14 weeks of gestation) and 50 for measurement of amniotic fluid insulin levels (30 weeks of gestation). A semi-structured psychological interview was used to collect information concerning experience of pain, cognition before amniocentesis, knowledge about the procedure and the most distressing aspects of amniocentesis. Visual analog scales (VAS, 0 to 10) were used to assess the degree of pain and emotional mood state. RESULTS: The results showed that emotional mood state before amniocentesis was fair (mean = 4.6) and increased after amniocentesis (mean = 8.1) The degree of pain during amniocentesis was assessed at a mean value of 2.9 measured on the 10-point visual analog scale. Fifty per cent of the sample considered the physical, the other 50% the psychological (anxiety and uncertainty) aspects as the most distressing factor of amniocentesis. Although women were given prior detailed information about amniocentesis they overestimated the degree of pain, related risk factors, and duration of the medical procedure. There were no differences in the investigated variables between the two different indications for amniocentesis or the weeks of gestation. CONCLUSION: The findings of the study indicate the psychological distress associated with amniocentesis, which is limited to a short period of time, and is independent of the indication for amniocentesis.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1998

Amniotic fluid insulin testing in gestational diabetes: safety and acceptance of amniocentesis.

OBJECTIVES: We analyzed the safety and patient acceptance of amniotic fluid insulin measurements by third-trimester amniocentesis in women with gestational diabetes mellitus. STUDY DESIGN: We studied the rate of early uterine contractions, need for tocolysis, premature rupture of membranes, mode of delivery, length of gestation, and fetal weight and length at birth in 194 women with gestational diabetes mellitus who underwent third-trimester amniocentesis and 268 controls. Patient acceptance of amniocentesis was assessed prospectively with a visual rating scale and a semistructured interview comparing 50 women with gestational diabetes mellitus to 50 women undergoing second-trimester amniocentesis for fetal karyotyping. RESULTS: Only the length of gestation differed significantly but without clinical relevance (39.5 +/- 1.9 vs 40.0 +/- 2.0, P = .006) between women with gestational diabetes mellitus who had amniocentesis and controls. Patient acceptance was equally high both for second-trimester and third-trimester amniocentesis. CONCLUSIONS: Third-trimester amniocentesis for measuring amniotic fluid insulin is safe and well accepted by the patients. This is important information both for treating and counseling women with gestational diabetes mellitus.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Maternal perceptions of labor with fetal monitoring by pulse oximetry in a research setting.

OBJECTIVE: Little research has evaluated maternal experience with fetal pulse oximetry for fetal surveillance. The purpose of this study was to compare maternal perceptions of labor with intrapartal cardiotocography with or without fetal pulse oximetry in a research setting. METHODS: One hundred women with vaginal, vertex deliveries and uncomplicated fetal outcomes were enrolled. The study group was a subset of 50 mothers who had participated in a pulse oximetry trial. The control group of 50 mothers was monitored by cardiotocography only. Both groups were matched for age, parity, weeks of gestation, epidural anesthesia use, and duration of labor. A global measure of maternal perception of labor was established by experience with labor, general attitude toward monitoring devices, satisfaction with monitoring, nursing and medical care, and anxiety, each of which was evaluated separately. The mothers in the study group were also interviewed about aspects related to the fetal pulse oximetry research setting, such as information, movement restriction, discomfort, care, privacy, and safety. The questionnaires were based on a standardized rating scale model, and the interviews were conducted two to four days after delivery. The results were analyzed by chi-squared, paired t test, and ANOVA. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed between the study and control participants in any parameter concerning the maternal perception of labor. Mothers' experiences with pulse oximetry as assessed by interview was overwhelmingly positive. CONCLUSIONS: Fetal monitoring by pulse oximetry in a research setting did not affect maternal perceptions of labor. Mothers' experiences with pulse oximetry were highly positive, suggesting that research in fetal pulse oximetry need not compromise maternal perceptions of labor.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[Psychosexual behavior as a risk factor for cervix cancer].

Seventy-two patients with cervical cancer (n = 24), ovarian cancer (n = 24), or no disease (n = 24) were questioned about sexual activity and personal relationships. The interviews were conducted in a semistandardized fashion according to the Tübingen Sexual Therapy Scale. Patients with invasive cervical cancer did not have a larger number of sexual partners, an earlier age of first intercourse, greater sexual activity or less stable relationships than patients with ovarian cancer of healthy women. There was no statistical difference among the groups with regard to the relationships. However, patients with cervical cancer reported greater degrees of satisfaction with both sexuality and relationships.

Adult↗