The impact of rurality on vulvodynia diagnosis and management: Primary care provider and patient perspectives.
Select Content Type
Clinical Guidelines
Authored By
Webber V, Bajzak K, Gustafson DL
Authored On
Interests
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Internal/Family Medicine
Speciality
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Internal/Family Medicine
Book Detail
volume
28
ISSN
1488-237X
No. of pages
9
Publication Date
Actions
Download in App
Event Data
{"article_title":"The impact of rurality on vulvodynia diagnosis and management: Primary care provider and patient perspectives.","author":"\"Webber, Valerie , Bajzak, Krisztina , Gustafson, Diana L\"","journal_title":"Canadian journal of rural medicine : the official journal of the Society of Rural Physicians of Canada = Journal canadien de la medecine rurale : le journal officiel de la Societe de medecine rurale du Canada","issn":"1488-237X ; Electronic","isbn":"","publication_date":"20230701","volume":"28","issue":"3","first_page":"107","page_count":"9","accession_number":"37417041","doi":"10.4103\/cjrm.cjrm_49_22","publisher":"Medknow","doctype":"Journal Article","subjects":"Gynecology","interest_area":["Obstetrics & Gynecology"," Internal\/Family Medicine"],"abstract":"None","url":"https:\/\/search.ebscohost.com\/login.aspx?direct=true&db=mdl&AN=37417041&authtype=shib&custid=ns346513","isPdfLink":true,"isSAML":false,"additionalInfo":{"Authored_By":"Webber V, Bajzak K, Gustafson DL","Journal_Info":"Publisher: Medknow Country of Publication: India NLM ID: 9708550 Publication Model: Print Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1488-237X (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 12037796 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Can J Rural Med Subsets: MEDLINE","Publication_Type":"Journal Article","Published_Date":"2023-07-01","Source":"Canadian journal of rural medicine : the official journal of the Society of Rural Physicians of Canada = Journal canadien de la medecine rurale : le journal officiel de la Societe de medecine rurale du Canada [Can J Rural Med] 2023 Jul-Sep; Vol. 28 (3), pp. 107-115.","Languages":"English","Electronic_ISSN":"1488-237X","MeSH_Terms":"Vulvodynia*\/diagnosis , Vulvodynia*\/therapy, Female ; Humans ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Communication ; Primary Health Care ; Canada","Subjects":"Female, Humans, Surveys and Questionnaires, Communication, Primary Health Care, Canada, Vulvodynia diagnosis, Vulvodynia therapy","Title_Abbreviations":"Canadian journal of rural medicine : the official journal of the Society of Rural Physicians of Canada = Journal canadien de la medecine rurale : le journal officiel de la Societe de medecine rurale du Canada","Volume":"28"},"header":{"DbId":"mdl","DbLabel":"MEDLINE Ultimate","An":"37417041","RelevancyScore":"890","PubType":"Academic Journal","PubTypeId":"academicJournal","PreciseRelevancyScore":"889.751586914063"},"plink":"https:\/\/search.ebscohost.com\/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=mdl&AN=37417041&authtype=shib&custid=ns346513&group=main&profile=eds","upload_link":"https:\/\/search.ebscohost.com\/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=mdl&AN=37417041&authtype=shib&custid=ns346513&group=main&profile=eds"}
["Webber V, Bajzak K, Gustafson DL","Publisher: Medknow Country of Publication: India NLM ID: 9708550 Publication Model: Print Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1488-237X (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 12037796 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Can J Rural Med Subsets: MEDLINE","Journal Article","2023-07-01","Canadian journal of rural medicine : the official journal of the Society of Rural Physicians of Canada = Journal canadien de la medecine rurale : le journal officiel de la Societe de medecine rurale du Canada [Can J Rural Med] 2023 Jul-Sep; Vol. 28 (3), pp. 107-115.","English","1488-237X","Vulvodynia*\/diagnosis , Vulvodynia*\/therapy, Female ; Humans ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Communication ; Primary Health Care ; Canada","Female, Humans, Surveys and Questionnaires, Communication, Primary Health Care, Canada, Vulvodynia diagnosis, Vulvodynia therapy","Canadian journal of rural medicine : the official journal of the Society of Rural Physicians of Canada = Journal canadien de la medecine rurale : le journal officiel de la Societe de medecine rurale du Canada","28"]
Description
Objective: The objective of this study was to better understand how rurality impacts the knowledge, diagnosis and management of vulvodynia by primary care providers (PCPs) practising in the geographically disparate province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.<br />Design: This was a qualitative case study using questionnaires and semi-structured interviews with PCPs, compared with semi-structured focus groups and interviews with vulvodynia patients conducted in a previous study phase.<br />Results: Ten family physicians and 6 nurse practitioners participated. Over half had baseline knowledge that vulvodynia has a relatively high prevalence, but most underestimated the likelihood they would see a patient with vulvodynia in their practice. Three barriers to discussing and managing vulvodynia emerged: (1) discomfort initiating sexual/vulvar health conversations; (2) concerns about protecting patient privacy and confidentiality; and (3) time constraints and building therapeutic relationships. These issues were largely corroborated by previous findings with vulvodynia patients. Rural-informed solutions might include: (1) supporting increased education in vulvodynia and sexual health more broadly, including funding to attend continuing professional education and developing more clinical tools; (2) following practice guidelines regarding standardised initiation of sexual health conversations; (3) incentivising retention of rural providers and extending appointment times by reconsidering fee-for-service structures; and (4) researching a tailored vulvodynia toolkit and the potential advantage of mobile health units.<br />Conclusion: Rurality exacerbates common concerns in the identification and management of vulvodynia. Acting on recommended solutions may address the impact of rurality on the provision of timely care for those experiencing vulvodynia and other sexual health concerns.
