Association between patient knowledge and quality of life in endometriosis: A cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE: To assess the correlation between patients' knowledge of endometriosis and their quality of life. METHOD: Women aged 18 to 50 years, with endometriosis, participated in an online survey consisting of a custom knowledge questionnaire and the Endometriosis Health Profile-30 (EHP-30), a validated tool for assessing disease-specific quality of life. RESULTS: A total of 203 patients were enrolled in the study between November 1, 2023, and April 30, 2024.The mean score of the endometriosis knowledge section was 16.7 ± 1.8/20, and 16.5 ± 3.9 for the anatomy section, yielding an overall mean knowledge score of 16.6 ± 2.3/ 20, corresponding to 83% correct responses. The mean global EHP-30 score was 49.3 ± 17.9, indicating a moderate impact on quality of life. Multivariate analysis revealed a significant association between knowledge and the EHP-30 self-image subscale (-1.96 [-3.66; -0.253]; p = 0.025) and social life subscale (-2.06 [-3.54; -0.572]; p < 0.01), suggesting improved outcomes in these domains with greater knowledge. CONCLUSION: Higher levels of disease-related knowledge were associated with better self-image and social well-being in patients with endometriosis. These findings support the implementation of structured patient education initiatives, such as therapeutic education workshops, to improve quality of life.