BACKGROUND: There is a growing need for non-medical treatments for women experiencing problematic menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes and night sweats (HF/NS). A recent randomized control trial (RCT) (MENOS2) provides evidence of the effectiveness of Group CBT and Self-Help CBT for HF/NS. AIMS: This study examines MENOS 2 participants' experience of the CBT treatments. METHOD:Twenty women who had experienced CBT for HF/NS (10 Group CBT and 10 Self-Help CBT) were interviewed at the end of the trial to explore how they experienced the treatment and its effects. The interviews were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. RESULTS: Women experienced both treatment formats as positive and helpful, increasing their ability to cope and their sense of control over HF/NS. Four super-ordinate themes were identified: making sense of symptom change, new ways of coping and regaining control, acknowledging and challenging the menopause taboo, and social interaction and support versus individual learning. CONCLUSIONS: These qualitative results are consistent with those of the main trial in that women found both CBT formats helpful in reducing the impact of HF/NS. However, the results also suggest possible mechanisms of change and provide useful information on women's responses to the different treatment components and formats.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: There is a growing need for non-medical treatments for women experiencing problematic menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes and night sweats (HF/NS). A recent randomized control trial (RCT) (MENOS2) provides evidence of the effectiveness of Group CBT and Self-Help CBT for HF/NS. AIMS: This study examines MENOS 2 participants' experience of the CBT treatments. METHOD: Twenty women who had experienced CBT for HF/NS (10 Group CBT and 10 Self-Help CBT) were interviewed at the end of the trial to explore how they experienced the treatment and its effects. The interviews were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. RESULTS:Women experienced both treatment formats as positive and helpful, increasing their ability to cope and their sense of control over HF/NS. Four super-ordinate themes were identified: making sense of symptom change, new ways of coping and regaining control, acknowledging and challenging the menopause taboo, and social interaction and support versus individual learning. CONCLUSIONS: These qualitative results are consistent with those of the main trial in that women found both CBT formats helpful in reducing the impact of HF/NS. However, the results also suggest possible mechanisms of change and provide useful information on women's responses to the different treatment components and formats.
Authors: Carolyn J Gibson; Alison J Huang; Brigid McCaw; Leslee L Subak; David H Thom; Stephen K Van Den Eeden Journal: JAMA Intern Med Date: 2019-01-01 Impact factor: 21.873
Authors: Deborah Fenlon; Jacqueline Nuttall; Carl May; James Raftery; Jo Fields; Emma Kirkpatrick; Julia Abab; Mary Ellis; Taylor Rose; Priya Khambhaita; Angeliki Galanopoulou; Tom Maishman; Jo Haviland; Gareth Griffiths; Lesley Turner; Myra Hunter Journal: BMC Womens Health Date: 2018-05-08 Impact factor: 2.809