What Do Patients Want? A Needs Assessment of Vulvodynia Patients Attending a Vulvar Diseases Clinic

INTRODUCTION: Vulvodynia is a chronic pain disorder that negatively impacts the quality of life of affected women. AIM: The goal of this study was to identify unmet needs among localized provoked vulvodynia patients. METHODS: A qualitative needs assessment was performed in a subspecialized vulvar clinic in a single academic institution in Canada. Semistructured interviews were conducted, recorded, and analyzed using the constant comparative method of grounded theory to identify common themes. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Interviews were conducted until theme saturation was achieved. RESULTS: A diverse sample of 8 patients completed all components of the study. The most prominent unmet needs raised by patients in their interviews were categorized into 3 main themes: (1) challenges related to obtaining a diagnosis of vulvodynia and finding practitioners who are knowledgeable about vulvodynia; (2) challenges related to the current impact of the disease physically, emotionally, and in social relationships with patients' intimate partners; and (3) barriers to adherence with recommended therapy. Solutions recommended by patients include better education of physicians regarding vulvodynia and the development of multidisciplinary programs that provide access to physiotherapy, sex therapy, mindfulness and psychology services on-site, information classes for new patients, and the creation of peer support networks for patients and their partners. CONCLUSION: A patient-focused needs assessment suggests optimal vulvodynia care requires better education of physicians and a multimodal approach to therapy, ideally with multiple services offered in 1 location.