Lena Rindner1, Gunilla Strömme2, Lena Nordeman3, Dominique Hange4, Ronny Gunnarsson5, Gun Rembeck6. 1. Närhälsan, Skene Health Care Center, Skene, Närhälsan, Research and Development, Primary Health Care Region Västra Götaland, The Research and Development Center Södra Älvsborg, Sweden; Department of Public Health and Community Medicine/Primary Health Care, Institute of Medicine, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden; Research and Development Center Södra Älvsborg, Närhälsan, Research and Development, Primary Health Care Region, Västra Götaland, Sweden. Electronic address: lena.rindner@vgregion.se. 2. Närhälsan, Mark Gynecological Clinic, Skene, Sweden. 3. Research and Development Center Södra Älvsborg, Närhälsan, Research and Development, Primary Health Care Region, Västra Götaland, Sweden; University of Gothenburg, Sahlgrenska Academy, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology Department of Health and Rehabilitation, Unit of Physiotherapy, Sweden. 4. Department of Public Health and Community Medicine/Primary Health Care, Institute of Medicine, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden; Research and Development Center Södra Älvsborg, Närhälsan, Research and Development, Primary Health Care Region, Västra Götaland, Sweden; Närhälsan, Svenljunga Health Care Center, Department of Public Health and Community Medicine/Primary Health, Gothenburg University, Sweden. 5. Department of Public Health and Community Medicine/Primary Health Care, Institute of Medicine, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden; Research and Development Center Södra Älvsborg, Närhälsan, Research and Development, Primary Health Care Region, Västra Götaland, Sweden; Associate Professor in General Practice and Rural Medicine, Cairns Clinical School, College of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Australia. 6. Research and Development Center Södra Älvsborg, Närhälsan, Research and Development, Primary Health Care Region, Västra Götaland, Sweden; Närhälsan Borås Youth Centre, Region Västra Götaland, Sweden, Borås, Sweden.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Women's physical and mental ill-health shows a marked increase during menopause, which usually occurs between 45 and 55 years of age. Mental illness and somatic symptoms are common causes of long-term sick leave. Women suffer from a lack of knowledge about the menopause transition and its associated symptoms. The aim of the study was to investigate whether group education for women in primary health care (PHC) about the menopause transition can improve their physical and mental ill-health. STUDY DESIGN: This randomized controlled study was conducted in PHC and aimed to evaluate a group education programme for women aged 45-55 years, around the menopause transition. A total of 131 women were randomized to group education or no intervention. The group intervention included two education sessions with topics related to menopause. They answered two questionnaires at baseline and at four-month follow-up: the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) and the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Change in MRS and MADRS scores over the four months. RESULTS: The intervention group experienced a slight reduction in symptoms while the control group mostly experienced the opposite. CONCLUSION: This study showed that it was feasible to implement group education on menopause for women aged 45-55 years. THE CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NTC02852811.
OBJECTIVES: Women's physical and mental ill-health shows a marked increase during menopause, which usually occurs between 45 and 55 years of age. Mental illness and somatic symptoms are common causes of long-term sick leave. Women suffer from a lack of knowledge about the menopause transition and its associated symptoms. The aim of the study was to investigate whether group education for women in primary health care (PHC) about the menopause transition can improve their physical and mental ill-health. STUDY DESIGN: This randomized controlled study was conducted in PHC and aimed to evaluate a group education programme for women aged 45-55 years, around the menopause transition. A total of 131 women were randomized to group education or no intervention. The group intervention included two education sessions with topics related to menopause. They answered two questionnaires at baseline and at four-month follow-up: the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) and the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Change in MRS and MADRS scores over the four months. RESULTS: The intervention group experienced a slight reduction in symptoms while the control group mostly experienced the opposite. CONCLUSION: This study showed that it was feasible to implement group education on menopause for women aged 45-55 years. THE CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NTC02852811.