The Missing Piece of Me: Lived Experiences of Total Abdominal Hysterectomy with Bilateral Salphingo -Oophorectomy (Tahbso), For Reproductive Health Care Program

Abstract

Introduction

Reproductive health, as a human right, is a broad area that encompasses many interrelated challenges and problems. Complemented by feedback from clients in health care, these prompted the conceptualization of this research which aims to explore the lived experiences of total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salphingo-oophorectomy (TAHBSO) clients.

Methods

This study is a Qualitative Research guided by the Phenomenological Approach. Data collection was done from February up to May 2019. With the aid of the detailed Colaizzi's steps of data analysis, substantial findings were drawn from the in-depth interviews with the eight (8) clients operated with TAHBSO within the years 2016 up to 2018 who served as informants.

Results

Four (4) major themes were ascertained in this study: (1) The Beginning: Indication for a Surgical Intervention and Pre-Operative Apprehension; (2) Post-Operative Recovery: Challenges and Activities; (3) Facing the New Me: Lifetime Post-Operative Physiologic Changes in TAHBSO Clients; and (4) Moving On, Moving Forward: Coping Strategies and Practices to Achieve Optimum Level of Functioning after TAHBSO. The struggles of clients who were operated with total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (TAHBSO) is immeasurable. They are living a very challenging life that is beyond comprehension and justification. The physical, emotional, behavioral, social, and spiritual aspects of their lives are being affected. However, it is an innate nature of an individual to adapt and to adopt, to fight or to flight, to any circumstance. They had several coping strategies that were practically applied to facilitate their effective and efficient adaptation. The totality of an individual, as in the case of these clients, is the result of the combined impacts of the interventions from her internal and external environments.

Discussions

While there are similarities and differences as to their experiences and responses, it can be taken from this study that every individual is unique needing health care services that are distinct from the other. The reproductive health services being rendered by health professionals should be individualized in nature. Grounded by the themes emerged in this study, recommendations for the nursing practice, education, and research, policy implementation were developed. This was the basis for the proposal of a reproductive health care program for TAHBSO clients. It was validated by experts as Very Satisfactory and is considered valid.