Abstract
This study was a cross-sectional, descriptive study. Research aims were: (a) to understand women's menopausal symptoms and health related quality of life (HRQL), and (b) to explore factors related to women's HRQL among a sample of women 45-60 years of age at a gynecology/obstetrics clinic in a medical center. One hundred and thirty eight women with more than one menopausal symptom (s) were invited to participate in this study. The Greene Climacteric Scale, Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Subscale and the Short Form-36 Taiwan version were used to measure women's menopausal symptoms and HRQL. Data presentation and statistical analyses included percentage, mean, standard deviation, t test, One-way ANOVA and Pearson correlation.
In the present study, results revealed that the five most frequently reported menopausal symptoms were loss of interest in sex, feeling tired or lack in energy, muscle and joint pains, difficulty in sleeping, and difficulty in concentrating. About 82% women experienced at least one lower urinary tract symptom (s). Participants in this study reported lower HRQL than women in the community. Some individual characteristics such as age, body mass index, marital status, education, chronic disease (s) and the usage of hormone replacement therapy were significantly related to some HRQL aspects; menopausal symptoms were significantly related to 8 HRQL aspects.
Results in this study also showed the importance of managing menopausal symptom (s) for improving women's HRQL. Based on the findings of possible factors related to women's HRQL, professional health care providers could design and provide adequate health care services. For example, through providing weight loss program either in the hospital or in the community for overweighed women, women's body image could be improved, occurrence of chronic disease could be prevented, and chronic disease could be well managed. In addition, menopause related consulting service and support group could be initiated in the hospital or in the community to help women manage their menopausal symptom (s), lower the impact resulted from the symptom (s), and further improve their HRQL.
In the present study, results revealed that the five most frequently reported menopausal symptoms were loss of interest in sex, feeling tired or lack in energy, muscle and joint pains, difficulty in sleeping, and difficulty in concentrating. About 82% women experienced at least one lower urinary tract symptom (s). Participants in this study reported lower HRQL than women in the community. Some individual characteristics such as age, body mass index, marital status, education, chronic disease (s) and the usage of hormone replacement therapy were significantly related to some HRQL aspects; menopausal symptoms were significantly related to 8 HRQL aspects.
Results in this study also showed the importance of managing menopausal symptom (s) for improving women's HRQL. Based on the findings of possible factors related to women's HRQL, professional health care providers could design and provide adequate health care services. For example, through providing weight loss program either in the hospital or in the community for overweighed women, women's body image could be improved, occurrence of chronic disease could be prevented, and chronic disease could be well managed. In addition, menopause related consulting service and support group could be initiated in the hospital or in the community to help women manage their menopausal symptom (s), lower the impact resulted from the symptom (s), and further improve their HRQL.
| Original language | Chinese (Traditional) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 7-20 |
| Number of pages | 14 |
| Journal | 新臺北護理期刊 |
| Volume | 12 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2010 |