Die invloed van biblioterapie op die post-operatiewe aanpassing van histerektomie-pasiënte

English: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a bibliotherapeutic programme for hysterectomy patients. A hysterectomy might lead to post-operative psychological problems. From a literature study it was obvious that problems such as anxiety and depression might arise. During the experimental investigation done for the purpose of this study, 18 hysterectomy patients (the experimental group) were enrolled in a bibliotherapeutic programme. The control group (which also consisted of 18 hysterectomy patients) did not take part in the programme. The bibliotherapeutic programme comprised a printed information sheet (compiled specifically for hysterectomy patients) which was worked through and discussed with the patients on two or three occasions. Eight weeks after the operation both groups of patients completed a biographic questionaire, a self-evaluation questionaire, the IPAT anxiety scale and the Carroll depression scale. The Hamilton depression scale was completed by the researcher. The results clearly indicate that the patients in the experimental group were significantly less depressed and anxious than those in the control group. Moreover, a larger percentage of the patients in the experimental group were satisfied with the amount of information they had received, while fewer of the experimental subjects had questions regarding hormone treatment than members of the control group. The conclusion can therefore be reached that bibliotherapy has a positive influence on the post-operative adjustment of hysterectomy patients