Investigation of the Effects of WEB-based Lifestyle Training and Progressive Relaxation Training in Women With Premenstrual Syndrome: 4-Week Follow-up Randomized Controlled Trial
Investigation of the Effects of WEB-based Lifestyle Training and Progressive Relaxation Training in Women With Premenstrual Syndrome: 4-Week Follow-up Randomized Controlled Trial
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.
Improving and maintaining health and quality of life in women is possible by protecting reproductive health . Menstruation, an important indicator of reproductive health, is a significant process that continues from adolescence to menopause in women. Women may encounter various problems related to the menstruation process . One of the most important of these problems is premenstrual syndrome (PMS) .
Premenstrual syndrome is seen in 30-40% of women of reproductive age and is characterized by a series of physical, psychological, emotional, behavioral, and social symptoms that begin in the late luteal phase of their menstrual cycle. These symptoms typically begin in the luteal phase and end within a few days after 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. The cyclical nature of symptom changes is one of the syndrome's notable features. Although the etiology of PMS is uncertain, it is thought that the common symptoms may largely result from sex steroids secreted during the luteal phase and the serotonin mechanism in the central nervous system .
PMS causes a decrease in workforce productivity and the quality of work life, leading to economic losses and an increase in accident potential. In addition, these symptoms have been observed to reduce young women's self-esteem, school attendance (if they are students), academic success, and desire to engage in hobbies, thus negatively affecting their participation in meaningful and purposeful activities, also known as occupations . A study by Park et al. (2023) identified three problematic areas in women with PMS: occupational disruption, social disruption, and a decrease in self-awareness while engaging in their occupations. Additionally, it has been observed that PMS symptoms interfere with women's ability to perform their occupations, including self-care, productivity, and leisure, thereby disrupting their routines and interpersonal relationships. Other studies, such as one by Süt et al. (2006), found that PMS decreased work-related quality of life in working women (n=134). In another study by Victor et al. (2019), conducted with female students (n=634) in Brazil, it was found that students with PMS had lower quality of life and academic achievement compared to asymptomatic students. Similarly, a study conducted with female students (n=235) in Northern India found a moderate correlation between PMS and health-related quality of life (Bhuvaneswari et al., 2019). Additionally, it was reported that premenstrual symptoms negatively impacted daily life activities, learning activities, and even communication with friends and family. Thus, creating an effective and widespread intervention protocol for PMS, which imposes a socioeconomic burden and negatively affects occupational participation and quality of life in women, is of great importance.
Occupational therapy is a health profession that promotes lifestyle changes and habits that enhance health, facilitating participation in meaningful and purposeful activities. Non-pharmacological methods aimed at alleviating the physical and psychiatric symptoms of PMS, such as yoga, Pilates, aerobic exercises, electrotherapy, and cognitive-behavioral therapy, have been used. One of the important methods used in PMS management is lifestyle change interventions aimed at instilling and maintaining behaviors such as diet, sleep hygiene, and exercise. A randomized controlled trial conducted by Alyazkaya et al. (2020) demonstrated that lifestyle education based on the health belief model reduced PMS symptoms. Similarly, a randomized controlled trial by Yılmaz & Aydın (2019) found that diet and exercise reduced PMS symptoms. Studies have emphasized the importance of expanding the scope of interventions that include lifestyle changes. Thus, it is important to expand the impact of lifestyle interventions on PMS symptoms and compare them with different interventions.
Controlling lifestyle changes and symptoms in PMS is only possible through behavior change. Recent studies have suggested the use of various tools (mobile-based, tele-rehabilitation, phone) to promote behavior change in PMS. Among these tools, one of the most noteworthy is web-based lifestyle interventions. Web-based applications are preferred in healthcare interventions due to their accessibility, ease of use, cost/time efficiency, centralization of user health data, and the ability to update remotely.However, studies on web-based lifestyle change interventions in women with PMS are limited (Bastani & Hashemi, 2012). In a study by Bastani & Hashemi (2012), web-based lifestyle change education was found to improve general health and well-being in university students with PMS after the intervention. Therefore, further studies are needed to understand and expand the use of web-based lifestyle education in PMS.
Another method for addressing premenstrual syndrome is progressive relaxation training (PRT). Progressive relaxation training involves gradually tensing and relaxing muscle groups in 16 areas of the body. It has been reported that PRT reduces stress, depression, and pain, while improving sleep and quality of life. In a randomized controlled trial conducted by Abic et al. (2024) with women with PMS (n=68), yoga and PRT were provided to manage PMS-related depression, anxiety, and stress. It was found that PRT combined with yoga reduced PMS symptoms. Thirupathi's (2017) study of 60 young adult women revealed that PRT reduced PMS symptoms and improved quality of life. In another study by Rausch et al. (2006) with 387 women, PRT was found to reduce cognitive, somatic, and general anxiety. Studies have highlighted the need for expanding the use of progressive relaxation training within treatment protocols. In this context, studies on the use of PRT for PMS symptoms are gaining importance.
In the literature, web-based PRT applications have been used in various disease populations (caregivers, women with migraines, individuals with back pain, healthcare workers, office workers). However, studies on women with PMS are limited and few. In a study by Marfuah et al. (2021), progressive relaxation training was provided to adolescent women (n=52) through a mobile application, and it was found that PRT reduced PMS symptoms and that more interventions focused on reproductive health were needed for young women.
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