The University of Liverpool is initiating an online study focused on the different psychological determinants able to influence the quality of life of women with endometriosis, and is currently searching for volunteer female participants who suffer from the disease. The patients need to fulfill a series of criteria, but the participation only involves answering an anonymous online questionnaire.
The study, which will be led by the senior clinical teacher and consultant clinical psychologist Gundi Kiemle from the University of Liverpool, was designed to increase knowledge of the psychological factors that impact the quality of life of endometriosis patients in order to improve the management methods. Despite the fact that the participation is anonymous and the patients are not put at any risk by doing it, enrolling studies such as these can be challenging.
The researcher responsible for the study also noted that participation in the study may not result in a particular benefit for any volunteer, but participating and responding to the questionnaire may help others and significantly improve the lives of several women who suffer from endometriosis. The chronic disease affects one in ten women, which means 1.5 million people in the UK alone, causing severe pain and limitations on daily life.
The initiative is being supported by the organization Endometriosis UK, which is helping to recruit patients for the study and will present a summary of the overall findings. The volunteers should be from 18 to 50 years old, diagnosed with endometriosis confirmed by laparoscopy in the UK, suffered from pelvic pain during the last six months and have access and knowledge on how to use a computer.
In addition, the participants have the opportunity to receive one of three £50 gift vouchers for fulfilling the 20-minute questionnaire. Patients who also suffer from other long term physical medical condition, such as arthritis, asthma, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, lupus, ME or a neurological condition, or who experienced significant mental health problems and accessed treatment before the onset of experiencing symptoms of endometriosis, however, cannot participate.
More information about the study and enrollment is provided on the website of the study here.