Effect of a Health Belief Model-Based Podcast Education Program on Premenstrual Symptom Severity and PMS-Specific Quality of Life in University Students: A Single-Group Pretest-Posttest Quasi-Experimental Study
Effect of a Health Belief Model-Based Podcast Education Program on Premenstrual Symptom Severity and PMS-Specific Quality of Life in University Students: A Single-Group Pretest-Posttest Quasi-Experimental Study
Premenstrual syndrome is a common women's health condition characterized by physical, psychological, and behavioral symptoms that may negatively affect daily life, academic functioning, and quality of life among young women. This study evaluated the effect of a Health Belief Model-based podcast education program on premenstrual symptom severity and PMS-specific quality of life among young female university students living in Istanbul, Türkiye.
This single-group pretest-posttest quasi-experimental study enrolled 120 participants. The intervention consisted of an eight-episode podcast education program delivered over four weeks, with two episodes per week. Premenstrual symptom severity and PMS-specific quality of life were assessed before and after the education program using validated scales.
This study was designed as a single-group pretest-posttest quasi-experimental study to evaluate a Health Belief Model-based podcast education program for premenstrual syndrome management among university students. The study was conducted online with young female university students living in Istanbul, Türkiye.
The educational intervention was structured according to the Health Belief Model components, including perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, cues to action, and self-efficacy. The program aimed to help participants recognize PMS and PMDD symptoms, monitor their symptoms, understand the effects of PMS on quality of life and academic functioning, recognize the role of healthy lifestyle behaviors in symptom management, and develop PMS-related self-management skills.
The podcast education program lasted four weeks and included eight episodes in total. Two podcast episodes were shared each week. Each episode lasted approximately 8 to 10 minutes. Podcast episodes were shared online, and reminder messages were sent before each episode. A WhatsApp group was used to facilitate access to the podcast episodes, share educational announcements, and monitor the education process.
Data were collected using a Personal Information Form, the Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Scale, and the PMS-Specific Quality of Life Scale. The primary outcome was change in premenstrual symptom severity from baseline to posttest. The secondary outcome was change in PMS-specific quality of life from baseline to posttest.
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