Evaluating the Perception
and Awareness of Patients Regarding Ovarian Cysts in
Peshawar, Pakistan
Saira Azhar1*,
Iffat Almas1, Nisar-ur-Rehman1,
Sarfraz Ahmed2, Mohammad Ismail Tajik3
and Ghulam Murtaza1
1Department of Pharmacy,
COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Abbottabad,
Pakistan, 2School of Computer Science and
Statistics, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland, 3Department
of Pharmacy, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan
*For correspondence:
Email:
drsairaazhar@ciit.net.pk;
Tel: +92-307-6724266; Fax: +92-992-383441
Received: 22 February 2014
Revised accepted: 29 June
2014
Tropical
Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, August 2014; 13(8): 1361-1366
Abstract
Purpose: To evaluate patients’
perception regarding ovarian cyst as well as their
awareness of the symptoms and health management of the
disease.
Methods: A quantitative research
approach was used to conduct this study. Patients were
selected from the Gynecology wards, Hayatabad Medical
Complex, Peshawar and a questionnaire was designed to
evaluate the patients’ knowledge and awareness.
Results: When women were asked if
they had prior knowledge about the ovarian cyst, 37
(58.7 %) responded that they were first told by the
physician during their visit to the clinic or hospital
while the patients responded, “Still don’t know” are 22
(34.9 %). With respect to educational level of the
patients, they seemed to be less aware of the disease.
Their perception regarding the disease is that they had
a “water filled” balloon or tumor.
Conclusion: Prior to discharge of an
ovarian cyst patient from the hospital, she should be
counseled on the disease and successful treatment
outcomes. Counseling of the patients may result in
compliance with therapy, good quality of life and lower
economic burden.
Keywords: Ovarian cyst, Menstrual
cycle, Awareness, Perception, Treatment outcomes
