Randomized Controlled Trial Protocol for Evaluating the Effect of Group Education on Postmenopausal Sexual Dysfunction

Objectives@#This study primarily aimed to determine the effect of group education on sexual dysfunction in postmenopausal women referred to health centers in Hamadan, Iran. @*Methods@#This randomized controlled clinical trial conducted on 90 postmenopausal women from October 2018 to March 2019.Postmenopausal women who met the inclusion criteria and received approval of a psychiatrist were randomly divided into intervention and control groups (n = 45 in each group). They completed the demographic questionnaire and the Female Sexual Function Index questionnaire. Thereafter, four sessions of group training were conducted for women in the intervention group; these women were followed up for 1 month after the last training session. Data were analyzed using the SPSS ver. 16 software, and descriptive statistics and ANCOVA/ANOVA test were used for data analysis. @*Results@#We found that the two groups were homogenous in most of the demographic variables and the data were normal. The total mean score of sexual function and standard deviation after the intervention was 23.70 ± 3.67 in the intervention group and 19.94 ± 3.64 in the control group, indicating that these scores were significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group (P < 0.001). @*Conclusions@#Based on the results, group training is recommended to reduce sexual dysfunction in postmenopausal women at health centers

Effects of Group Counseling on Self-care Behaviors in Menopausal Women with Diabetes

OBJECTIVES: Diabetes is a chronic disease which is common in menopause period. Performing self-care behaviors is effective method for control of diabetes. This study aimed to investigate the effect of counseling on self-care behaviors in menopause diabetes women in 2016 in Hamadan, Iran. METHODS: In this study, 80 menopausal women were randomly selected and allocated to the experimental and control groups (40 per group). Data collected by a questionnaire included of demographic information, self-care behaviors, fasting blood sugar (FBS) and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c). In the experimental group, training program was run during four sessions in the form of weekly group consulting sessions. During this period, the control group only received routine cares. Three months after intervention (group consultation) self-care behaviors, FBS and HbA1c were compared between two groups. Data were analyzed using SPSS 16 software. RESULTS: The self-care score in the experimental group increased from 49.6 ± 12.2 before the intervention to 66.6 ± 9.3 after the intervention (P < 0.05). Also in the control group average of self-care score changed from 57.6 ± 11.5 to 62.0 ± 11.6 (P < 0.05). Three months after the group consultation, there was a significant difference between two groups in the dimensions of diet (P = 0.013), exercise (P = 0.009) and foot care (P < 0.001). In the experimental group, FBS decreased from 148.8 ± 62.4 mg/dL to 128.9 ± 46.3 mg/dL. Also, HbA1c changed from 7.2 ± 1.8 g/dL to 6.8 ± 1.6 g/dL three months after intervention (P = 0.058). No significant changes were observed in FBS and HbA1c in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that group counseling promoted self-care behaviors and metabolic indices in menopausal diabetic patients.

Effect of Group Counseling on Quality of Life among Postmenopausal Women in Hamadan, Iran

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the effect of counseling on quality of life (QOL) in postmenopausal women conducted in Hamadan, Iran in 2015. METHODS: In this quasi-experimental study, 80 postmenopausal women were randomly selected and allocated to case and control groups (40 per group). Data collection tool included questionnaires of demographic information and QOL during menopause, which were completed by the samples before the intervention. In the case group, training program was run during four sessions in the form of weekly consulting sessions for 45 to 60 minutes. Training program included familiarity with menopause symptoms, confrontation and self-care during this period. The control group, only received routine cares. Three months after intervention, information were collected in both groups. Data were analyzed using SPSS for Windows. RESULTS: Before the intervention, mean ± standard deviation for QOL in case group was 101.2 ± 31.4 and it was significantly decreased to 96.9 ± 27.0 after intervention (P < 0.05). While no significant change was observed in the control group (from 98.9 ± 35.5 to 102.3 ± 35.0, P = 0.443). Symptoms of physical (P = 0.033) and sexual (P < 0.001) dimensions significantly decreased in the case group. While significant increase was observed in terms of psychosocial (P = 0.049) and sexual symptoms in control group. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggested impact of consulting on improvement of QOL during menopause. Supportive consulting can be a suitable approach for improving women's health, reducing problems and enhancing QOL in menopause period.

epidemiologic survey on the causes of infertility in patients referred to infertility center in Fatemieh Hospital in Hamadan

Infertility is considered as a major health care problem of different communities. The high prevalence of this issue doubled its importance. A significant proportion of infertility have been related to environmental conditions and also acquired risk factors. Different environmental conditions emphasized the need to study the different causes of infertility in each area. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency causes of infertility in infertile couples. In this cross sectional descriptive study 1200 infertile men and women that were referred to infertility clinic of Fatemieh Hospital during 2010 to 2011, were examined. This center is the only governmental center for infertility in Hamadan. Sampling was based on census method. Information about the patients was obtained from medical examinations and laboratory findings. To analyze the data, descriptive statistics such as frequencies and the mean were used. The prevalence of primary and secondary infertility was 69.5% and 30.5% respectively. Among the various causes of infertility women factors [88.6%] had the highest regard. In the causes of female infertility, menstrual disorders, diseases [obesity, thyroid diseases, and diabetes], ovulation dysfunction, uterine factor, fallopian tubes and cervical factor had the highest prevalence respectively. The causes of male infertility based on their frequency included semen fluid abnormalities, genetic factors, vascular abnormalities, and anti-spermatogenesis factors, respectively. Etiology pattern of infertility in our study is similar with the many other patterns that have been reported by the World Health Organization. However, frequency of menstrual disorders is much higher than other studies that require further consideration

Parents' health beliefs influence breastfeeding patterns among Iranian women

To determine factors related to breastfeeding and its perceived health benefits among Iranian mothers. A cross-sectional study was performed using 240 postpartum women who were selected randomly from eight public health care centers in Hamadan, Iran, in 2012. Mothers who breastfed [BF] and mothers who never breastfed [NBF] were given a structured questionnaire to collect their demographic data and information regarding their health beliefs and attitude towards child-rearing. Descriptive and logistic regression were used for data analysis. The mean length of breastfeeding was 11.6 [standard deviation=12.5] weeks. There was no difference in demographic variables, such as age, type of medical insurance, number of living children, employment, education, and household income [p>0.050], between mothers that breastfed and those that did not. Mothers' perception of the severity of child illness was higher in those who breastfed than those who never breastfed [p=0.050]. In contrast, BF mothers had higher perceived confidence of medical care to prevent diseases [p<0.050] and a higher perception of reverse parent-child roles than NBF mothers [p<0.050]. Mothers' health beliefs and attitude to parenting has a significant role in choosing to breastfeed. Physicians and healthcare providers may provide supportive information that influence a mother's breastfeeding behavior

Effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation [TENS] on primary dysmenorrhea in adolescent girls

Dysmenorrhea is a common problem among female adolescents. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of high-frequency Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation [TENS] on primary dysmenorrhea and to compare it with placebo in a randomized controlled study. Sixty four female aged between 14-18 years at the first day of their menstruation cyclerandomly divided in two groups [TENS or placebo TENS]. Participants' physical characteristics and menstrual history were recorded. Menstrual pain was measured by self-reported pain intensity using visual analog scale [VAS] before and just after treatment. Paired t-test and independent t-test was conducted to compare pain intensity between pre and post treatment between the two groups [TENS vs. placebo]. The decrease in pain intensity after TENS and placebo TENS were both significant, [Active group:6.31 to 2.40, t= 9.70, p<0.01; placebo group: 6.65 to 5.00, t= 5.97, p<0.01]. However, pain intensity inactive TENS was significantly decreased than the placebo group [t=-4.690, p=0.000]. Concurrent use of analgesic was reduced significantly in the active TENS [t= 5.475, p<0.01]; but not after placebo TENS. This result supports that using TENS could be effective in pain reduction among adolescents who suffered from primary dysmenorrhea