Effects of health education and progressive muscle relaxation on vasomotor symptoms and insomnia in perimenopausal women: A randomized controlled trial

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Pelit Aksu S., Şentürk Erenel A.

PATIENT EDUCATION & COUNSELING, vol.105, no.11, pp.3279-3286, 2022 (SCI-Expanded)

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 105 Issue: 11
  • Publication Date: 2022
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.pec.2022.07.015
  • Journal Name: PATIENT EDUCATION & COUNSELING
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, ASSIA, Abstracts in Social Gerontology, ATLA Religion Database, CINAHL, Communication & Mass Media Index, EBSCO Education Source, Educational research abstracts (ERA), EMBASE, Gender Studies Database, MEDLINE, Psycinfo, Public Affairs Index
  • Page Numbers: pp.3279-3286
  • Gazi University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Objectives: This study aims to determine the effects of health education (HE) and progressive muscle relaxation

(PMR), individually or combined, on vasomotor symptoms and insomnia in perimenopausal women.

Methods: This study is a single-center, pretest-posttest, randomized controlled trial with a factorial design. The

research sample consists of 108 women who were randomly divided into three groups: HE + PMR group (n =

36), PMR group (n = 36) and control group (n = 36). 90 women completed the study. The data were collected in

three steps by using instruments of Personal Information Form, Visual Analog Scale and a diary for vasomotor

symptoms, Women’s Health Initiative Insomnia Rating Scale.

Results: Hot flash and night sweats frequency and severity scores/24 h, the VAS scores for hot flashes and night

sweats, and the WHIIRS scores significantly improved more in the intervention groups compared to the control

group (p < 0,05). Compared to the group PMR, the group PMR + HE had a greater improvement with larger

effect size in all measurements.

Conclusions: PMR and HE counseling by nurses benefit perimenopausal women who suffer from insomnia and

vasomotor symptoms.

Practice implications: PMR combined with HE or PMR alone is effective in managing vasomotor symptoms and

insomnia; therefore, they can easily be integrated into clinical practice.