Self-Awareness Counseling on Quality of Life of Menopausal Women

Background: Counseling interventions are among the available strategies to improve the menopausal quality of life and self-awareness counseling is effective in improving adaptation, self-confidence and quality of life. Therefore, the present study aimed to examine effects of self-awareness counseling on quality of life of menopausal women in Gorgan, Iran. Methods: In this clinical trial, we examined ۵۲ menopause women referred to health centers of Gorgan, Iran in ۲۰۱۸. Data collection tools included a demographic characteristics form and the menopause-specific quality of life questionnaire. First, the control group completed the data collection tools at the beginning of the study and ۶ and ۱۰ weeks after the first session. Then the intervention group completed the tools at base line and participated in six ۴۵-۶۰-minute self-awareness-based group counseling sessions, once a week. After that, they were completed questionnaire, immediately and a month after the end of the intervention. Data were expressed as mean ± standard deviation. Results: In the intervention group, the baseline mean scores of menopausal quality of life and its vasomotor, physical, psychosocial and sexual domains were ۵۵.۶۹±۱۹.۴۷, ۵.۳۰±۴.۵۷, ۳۰.۲۶±۱۲.۲۴, ۱۲.۱۵±۶.۶۴ and ۷.۹۶±۵.۳۴, respectively. A month after the intervention, the mean scores of menopausal quality of life (۳۰.۴۲±۱۹.۶۴) and its vasomotor (۲.۶۵±۲.۳۳), physical (۱۶.۳۸±۸.۶۴), psychosocial (۷.۱۹±۴.۶۳) and sexual (۴.۱۹±۳.۴۲) domains increased significantly in the intervention group (p=۰.۰۰۱). In between group comparison, except for the psychosocial domain, the mean scores of quality of life and its various domains showed a statistically significant difference in one month after the intervention (P=۰.۰۰۱). Conclusion: The menopausal quality of life and its various domains improved one month after the end of self-awareness counseling. Therefore, we recommend offering self-awareness counseling in health centers for improving the quality of life of menopausal women.