Effect of Web-Based Life Style Training and Relaxation Training in Women With Premenstrual Syndrome

Plain-language summary

The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of web-based lifestyle education and progressive relaxation training provided to women with PMS. During menstruation, an important indicator of reproductive health, women encounter various problems. One of these problems is premenstrual syndrome (PMS). PMS is characterized by its occurrence in 30-40% of women of reproductive age, beginning in the late luteal phase of their menstrual cycle, and presenting with a series of physical, psychological, emotional, behavioral, and social symptoms that end with menstruation. Common symptoms of PMS include changes in appetite, irritability, depression, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, headaches, weight gain, constipation, fatigue, abdominal and lower back pain, breast swelling and tenderness, and mood swings. These symptoms negatively affect the quality of life and participation in social and family activities of women with PMS. Moreover, it leads to reduced productivity in the workforce, lower quality of work life, economic losses, and increased accident potential. Additionally, it has been observed to negatively impact young women's self-esteem, school attendance if they are students, academic success, and willingness to engage in hobbies, thereby affecting their participation in meaningful and purposeful activities-referred to as occupations. Managing lifestyle changes and controlling symptoms in PMS is only possible through behavior change. Recent studies have focused on web-based lifestyle interventions and progressive relaxation training (PRT) to promote behavior change in PMS. The accessibility, ease of use, cost/time efficiency, centralization of user health data, and the ability to update remotely make web-based applications a preferred option in health interventions. In this study, women with PMS will be divided into three groups. The first group will receive web-based lifestyle interventions, the second group will receive web-based PRT, and the third group will serve as a control group without any education. Web-based lifestyle interventions and PRT will be provided by tracking the menstrual cycles of the women. Both interventions will be delivered over the course of two menstrual cycles. A follow-up assessment will be conducted one month after the completion of the trainings (4 weeks later, during the next cycle). Assessments will be planned for both before the intervention (baseline assessment) and after the intervention (8 weeks later). The women's sociodemographic and clinical characteristics related to menstruation will be assessed with the Sociodemographic and Clinical Information Form, their type and severity of premenstrual symptoms with the Premenstrual Syndrome Scale, their anxiety and stress levels with the Hospital Anxiety and Stress Scale, their quality of life with the Nottingham Health Profile, their occupational performance and participation with the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure, and their occupational satisfaction with the Occupational Balance Questionnaire.

Who can participate

What they're measuring

Trial details