Page 18 - Diagnostic delay of endometriosis

management to control symptoms, and facilitated support in the social and employment context.
Qualitative research
To obtain a comprehensive view on the diagnostic delay of endometriosis, studies focusing on quantitative measures such as the extent of the delay and distribution of certain characteristics, although obviously of great importance, do not suffice. There is a need for research that goes beyond numerical matters, directed at the understanding of underlying reasons for this issue. Therefore, the use of qualitative research methods is of great value for studies regarding the diagnostic delay of endometriosis. Qualitative research is defined as the systematic collection, organization, and interpretation of textual material derived from talk or observation.50 It can help bridge the gaps between theory and practice in medicine, and supplement the more traditional quantitative studies.51 This type of research answers why and how a certain phenomenon may occur rather than how often or how long. Qualitative data are obtained from observation, interviews, focus groups, interactions and many other sources. Interpretive techniques are used to analyze the data according to existing frameworks, or to induce new concepts and theories. The importance of findings derived from qualitative research has been increasingly appreciated.51
Outline of the thesis
Despite the many studies that have been conducted in the recent decades, the diagnostic delay of endometriosis remains an issue of great concern. The general aim of this thesis is to obtain insight in the factors contributing to the diagnostic delay of endometriosis, and to identify possible interventions to reduce this delay.
The first part of the thesis focuses on the duration of the diagnostic delay of endometriosis in The Netherlands and determinants contributing to the delay from the patients’ perspective. Chapter two reports on the interval between onset of symptoms and diagnosis of endometriosis in women treated in a hospital with expertise in endometriosis, and on the factors related to this delay. In chapter three, the results of a qualitative study are presented, in which patients’ experiences regarding the diagnostic process were discussed in focus group interviews.
16 | Chapter 1